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. 1997 Oct;92(2):284–289. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1997.00334.x

Detection of a novel 40,000 MW excretory Toxoplasma gondii antigen by murine Th1 clone which induces toxoplasmacidal activity when exposed to infected macrophages.

G Reichmann 1, S Stachelhaus 1, R Meisel 1, M N Mévélec 1, J F Dubremetz 1, H Dlugonska 1, H G Fischer 1
PMCID: PMC1364070  PMID: 9415038

Abstract

To analyse target molecules of the CD4+ T-cell response to toxoplasma infection, a panel of Toxoplasma gondii-specific murine CD4+ T-cell clones has been established. Clone 3Tx15, belonging to the T helper 1 (Th1) subtype, abolished intracellular parasite growth when co-cultured with macrophages and live toxoplasma at a ratio of 2:2:1. This effect results from macrophage toxoplasmicidal activity induced upon parasite-dependent cellular interaction, an irrelevant Th1 clone failed in this three-party system. Clone 3Tx15 detects its corresponding antigen in the supernatant of infected cells and also reacts with a host cell-free preparation of T. gondii-excreted/secreted antigens. T-cell blot analysis of two-dimensionally separated toxoplasma lysate revealed a molecular weight of about 40,000 for the fractions stimulating clone 3Tx15. As checked in parallel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the 40,000 MW T-cell antigen co-migrates with the excretory protein GRA4, the sole 40,000 MW T. gondii antigen hitherto known to be recognized by T lymphocytes. Nevertheless, neither recombinant GRA4 nor immunoaffinity-purified natural GRA4 was stimulatory for clone 3Tx15. Our findings thus demonstrate that Th1 clone 3Tx15 which induces toxoplasmicidal activity during antigenic interaction with infected macrophages defines a new 40,000 MW excretory T. gondii antigen.

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Selected References

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