title: T cell response to N-formylated peptides in humans.
abstract: We present the first evidence of a T lymphocyte response to N-formylated peptides in humans. N-formylated peptide sequences from self (mitochondrial) and foreign (microbial) antigens were used to isolate antigen-specific T cell clones from healthy individuals, including a set of monozygotic twins. The observed response differed from that previously described in mouse (CD4(+) phenotype and MHC class II restriction in humans vs. CD8(+) phenotype and class I restriction in mice). These lymphocytes produce substantial amounts of IFN-gamma. They were isolated in only one of the monozygotic twins, which suggests that their expansion in the healthy immune repertoire is independent of the genetic background. Our result will help in assessing the relevance of N-formylated peptide-specific T cells in protection against infections within the human immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ristori
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montesperelli
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fiorillo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Battistini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chersi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borsellino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tramonti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannoni
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giubilei
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riccio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buttinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009239:N-Formylmethionine / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015847:Interleukin-4; D009239:N-Formylmethionine; D007371:Interferon-gamma