CD8+ T cells specific for a potential HLA-A*0201 epitope from Chlamydophila pneumoniae are present in the PBMCs from infected patients.
Infection with the common pathogen Chlamydophila pneumoniae (Cpn, previously Chlamydia pneumoniae) has a high prevalence in patients suffering from arteriosclerosis and may trigger or contribute to heart disease. In mice, CD8-positive T cells are critical for the eradication of the infection and the development of immune memory against Cpn. Although several H2-class I epitopes have been described, no HLA-class I-associated peptides from Cpn are known. In order to define HLA-A*0201 epitopes from Cpn, we focused on the bacterial heat shock proteins (HSP) 60 and 70 which are known to be recognized by the immune system. Using epitope prediction, peptide binding studies and peptide-specific CTLs from HLA-A2 transgenic mice, we could define a potential HSP-70-derived epitope. The study of PBMCs from Cpn-infected individuals using fluorescent MHC tetramers revealed that some patients have CD8(+) T cells capable of recognizing the Cpn HSP-70 HLA-A*0201 epitope. Our studies pave the way to the immunomonitoring of the anti-Cpn CTL immune response present in patients suffering from different diseases potentially linked to Cpn or anti-Cpn immunity.
Carralot
Jean-Philippe
JP
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Dumrese
Claudia
C
Wessel
Ralf
R
Riessen
Reimer
R
Autenrieth
Ingo
I
Walter
Steffen
S
Schoor
Oliver
O
Stevanovic
Stefan
S
Rammensee
Hans-Georg
HG
Pascolo
Steve
S
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; C435939:HLA-A*02:01 antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins