title: Extensive MHC class I-restricted CD8 T lymphocyte responses against various yeast genera in humans.
abstract: The human cellular immune response against 14 distantly related yeast species was analyzed by intracellular cytokine staining of lymphocytes after ex vivo stimulation of whole blood. While the CD4 T cell response was marginal, extensive MHC class I-restricted CD8 T cell responses were detected against a number of species including spoiling, environmental and human pathogenic yeasts. The yeast-specific CD8 T cells expressed interferon-gamma but lacked expression of CD27 and CCR7, indicating that they were end-differentiated effector memory cells. Mainly intact yeast cells rather than spheroplasts were able to induce cytokine expression in T cells demonstrating that the dominant immunogens were located in the yeast cell wall. Together these data underline the importance of the cellular immune response in protecting humans against yeast and fungal infections. And, from another perspective, recombinant yeast suggests itself as a potential vaccine candidate to efficiently induce antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Building 47, University of the Saarland, 66421 Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heintel
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breinig
authors.forename: Manfred J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyerhans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015003:Yeasts / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000099192:CD69 Antigens