Different epitopes of the LACK protein are recognized by V beta 4 V alpha 8 CD4+ T cells in H-2b and H-2d mice susceptible to Leishmania major.
After inoculation of Leishmania major, a rapid production of IL-4 by LACK-specific CD4+ T cells has been shown to drive Th2 cell development in susceptible mice i.e. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice rendered susceptible by neutralization of IFN-gamma at the onset of infection. Here, we showed that peptide AA 156-173 induced an early IL-4 mRNA expression not only in BALB/c mice but also in resistant B10.D2 mice when IFN-gamma is neutralized. Epitope mapping of LACK protein demonstrated that peptide containing AA 293-305 induced early IL-4 mRNA transcripts in susceptible H-2b mice i.e. BALB/b and resistant C57BL/6 mice when IFN-gamma is neutralized. Stringently, the early IL-4 response to the H-2d (AA 156-173) or the H-2b (AA 293-305) epitopes occurred in V beta 4 V alpha 8 CD4+ T cells from either H-2d or H-2b susceptible mice, respectively.
Launois
Pascal
P
WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre, Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Chemin des Boveresses 155, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. pascal.launois@unil.ch
Pingel
Sabine
S
Himmelrich
Hayo
H
Locksley
Richard
R
Louis
Jacques
J
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000939:Epitopes; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C093139:LACK antigen, Leishmania; D015847:Interleukin-4