Clearance of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in H-2 class I human leucocyte antigen-A2.1 monochain transgenic mice.
CD8+ T cells have been suggested to play an important role in protective immunity against pulmonary Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in mice. Moreover, several classical major histocompatibility complex class I - restricted cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for C. pneumoniae- derived peptides have been identified. Here, we studied the outcome of C. pneumoniae infection in human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2.1 transgenic mice (HHD mice) that are only able to express a classical human class I molecule (HLA-A2.1). C. pneumoniae infection was self-restricted in HHD mice which were able to develop specific immune responses and a protective immunity against a subsequent rechallenge in a manner comparable to wildtype mice. Furthermore, accumulation of functional and C. pneumoniae-specific T cells to the site of infection was detected after challenge. Antigen processing and HLA-A2.1-dependent presentation was studied by immunizing the HHD mice with chlamydial outer protein N (CopN). Isolation of a peptide-specific CTL line from the CopN-immunized mice suggests that the HLA-A2.1 molecule can support the development of CTL response against a chlamydial protein in mice. These findings suggest that the transgenic mouse model can be used for further characterization of the HLA-A2.1-restricted CD8+ T-cell response during C. pneumoniae infection and for identification of CD8 epitopes from chlamydial antigens.
Tammiruusu
A
A
Department of Vaccines, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. anne.tammiruusu@ktl.fi
Haveri
A
A
Pascolo
S
S
Lahesmaa
R
R
Stevanovic
S
S
Rammensee
H-G
HG
Sarvas
M
M
Puolakkainen
M
M
Vuola
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma