T cell responses to major membrane protein II (MMP II) of Mycobacterium leprae are restricted by HLA-DR molecules in patients with leprosy.
Major membrane protein II (MMP II) of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is a 22kDa protein inducing humoral immune response in leprosy patients. MMP II-specific bulk T cell lines were established from leprosy patients to determine major T cell epitopes in MMP II and to evaluate lymphokine production induced by MMP II. These bulk T cell lines reacted to one or more peptides in the locus of amino acid residues from 23 to 109 of MMP II. The proliferative responses of all T cell lines were mainly inhibited by the addition of anti-DRB1 mAb. Many bulk T cell lines induced IFN-gamma, IL-5, but not IL-4. However, it was not possible to distinguish the LL or TT types of leprosy based on the pattern of T cell epitopes and the lymphokine productivity in the responses against MMP II. Thus, it appears that T cell response to MMP II is restricted by the HLA-DRB1 molecule, but not by DQ and DP molecules, which results in the induction of IFN-gamma production.
Ohyama
H
H
Department of Periodontal Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayam 700-8525, Japan.
Matsushita
S
S
Nishimura
F
F
Kato
N
N
Hatano
K
K
Takashiba
S
S
Murayama
Y
Y
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007371:Interferon-gamma