Natural CD4(+) T-cell responses against Trypanosoma cruzi KMP-11 protein in chronic chagasic patients.
Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplastid membrane protein-11 (KMP-11) is able to induce protective immunity in mice. In humans, T-cell immunity during Chagas disease has been documented using parasite antigens allowing the identification of specific CD8(+) T cells. However, little is known about the CD4(+) T-cell response during the evolution of the disease. In this paper, the induction of a natural CD4(+) T-cell response against the KMP-11 protein in T. cruzi infected humans was studied to assess whether this parasite-derived protein could be processed, presented and detected as a major histocompatibility complex class II restricted epitope. The results show that helper T cells from 5 out of 13 chagasic patients specifically produced interferon-gamma after exposure to the KMP-11 antigen, whereas healthy donors and non-chagasic cardiopathic patients did not respond. This is the first description of T. cruzi KMP-11 protein recognition by CD4(+) T cells in chronic chagasic patients.
Cuellar
Adriana
A
Grupo de Inmunobiología y Biología Celular, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
Rojas
Francia
F
Bolaños
Natalia
N
Diez
Hugo
H
Del Carmen Thomas
María
M
Rosas
Fernando
F
Velasco
Victor
V
López
Manuel Carlos
MC
González
John Mario
JM
Puerta
Concepción
C
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015800:Protozoan Proteins