Skip to main content
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1992 Jul;60(7):2753–2757. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.7.2753-2757.1992

Opportunist mycobacteria express ligands that stimulate production of human V gamma 9V delta 2 T lymphocytes.

G Häcker 1, S Kromer 1, K Heeg 1, J Ivanyi 1, H Wagner 1, K Pfeffer 1
PMCID: PMC257231  PMID: 1535340

Abstract

Human gamma delta T cells are known to respond at high frequencies to pathogenic mycobacteria. Here we show that opportunistic strains of mycobacteria share with pathogenic mycobacteria the ability to trigger at high frequencies human V gamma 9V delta 2 T-cell-receptor-positive T lymphocytes. Stimulating ligands were present in part in a low-molecular-weight fraction of lysates from opportunistic mycobacteria, as has been found for pathogenic strains. These results support the view that postnatal exposure to ever-present opportunistic mycobacteria may be a driving force for the numerical expansion of the V gamma 9V delta 2 T-cell subset in adolescence.

Full text

PDF
2753

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Beverley P. C. Human T cell subsets. Immunol Lett. 1987 Apr;14(4):263–267. doi: 10.1016/0165-2478(87)90001-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bolhuis R. L., Sturm E., Fisch P., Sondel P. M., Braakman E. Human gamma delta T lymphocyte subsets: activation by superantigens? Res Immunol. 1990 Sep;141(7):658–663. doi: 10.1016/0923-2494(90)90077-c. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Collins C. H., Grange J. M., Yates M. D. Mycobacteria in water. J Appl Bacteriol. 1984 Oct;57(2):193–211. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1984.tb01384.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. De Libero G., Casorati G., Giachino C., Carbonara C., Migone N., Matzinger P., Lanzavecchia A. Selection by two powerful antigens may account for the presence of the major population of human peripheral gamma/delta T cells. J Exp Med. 1991 Jun 1;173(6):1311–1322. doi: 10.1084/jem.173.6.1311. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Deusch K., Lüling F., Reich K., Classen M., Wagner H., Pfeffer K. A major fraction of human intraepithelial lymphocytes simultaneously expresses the gamma/delta T cell receptor, the CD8 accessory molecule and preferentially uses the V delta 1 gene segment. Eur J Immunol. 1991 Apr;21(4):1053–1059. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830210429. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fisch P., Malkovsky M., Kovats S., Sturm E., Braakman E., Klein B. S., Voss S. D., Morrissey L. W., DeMars R., Welch W. J. Recognition by human V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells of a GroEL homolog on Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells. Science. 1990 Nov 30;250(4985):1269–1273. doi: 10.1126/science.1978758. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Goerlich R., Häcker G., Pfeffer K., Heeg K., Wagner H. Plasmodium falciparum merozoites primarily stimulate the V gamma 9 subset of human gamma/delta T cells. Eur J Immunol. 1991 Oct;21(10):2613–2616. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830211045. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Groh V., Fabbi M., Strominger J. L. Maturation or differentiation of human thymocyte precursors in vitro? Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Aug;87(15):5973–5977. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.15.5973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Haregewoin A., Soman G., Hom R. C., Finberg R. W. Human gamma delta+ T cells respond to mycobacterial heat-shock protein. Nature. 1989 Jul 27;340(6231):309–312. doi: 10.1038/340309a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Horsburgh C. R., Jr, Mason U. G., 3rd, Farhi D. C., Iseman M. D. Disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. A report of 13 cases and a review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore) 1985 Jan;64(1):36–48. doi: 10.1097/00005792-198501000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Itohara S., Farr A. G., Lafaille J. J., Bonneville M., Takagaki Y., Haas W., Tonegawa S. Homing of a gamma delta thymocyte subset with homogeneous T-cell receptors to mucosal epithelia. Nature. 1990 Feb 22;343(6260):754–757. doi: 10.1038/343754a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Janeway C. A., Jr, Jones B., Hayday A. Specificity and function of T cells bearing gamma delta receptors. Immunol Today. 1988 Mar;9(3):73–76. doi: 10.1016/0167-5699(88)91267-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Janis E. M., Kaufmann S. H., Schwartz R. H., Pardoll D. M. Activation of gamma delta T cells in the primary immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Science. 1989 May 12;244(4905):713–716. doi: 10.1126/science.2524098. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kabelitz D., Bender A., Prospero T., Wesselborg S., Janssen O., Pechhold K. The primary response of human gamma/delta + T cells to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is restricted to V gamma 9-bearing cells. J Exp Med. 1991 Jun 1;173(6):1331–1338. doi: 10.1084/jem.173.6.1331. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kaufmann S. H. Role of T-cell subsets in bacterial infections. Curr Opin Immunol. 1991 Aug;3(4):465–470. doi: 10.1016/0952-7915(91)90004-k. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Koning F., Stingl G., Yokoyama W. M., Yamada H., Maloy W. L., Tschachler E., Shevach E. M., Coligan J. E. Identification of a T3-associated gamma delta T cell receptor on Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal Cell lines. Science. 1987 May 15;236(4803):834–837. doi: 10.1126/science.2883729. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kurrle R., Kanzy E. J., Racenberg J., Lang W., Seiler F. R. BMA 031--a TCR-specific monoclonal antibody for clinical application. Transplant Proc. 1989 Feb;21(1 Pt 1):1017–1019. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Munk M. E., Gatrill A. J., Schoel B., Gulle H., Pfeffer K., Wagner H., Kaufmann S. H. Immunity to mycobacteria: possible role of alpha/beta and gamma/delta T lymphocytes. APMIS. 1990 Aug;98(8):669–673. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1990.tb04987.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. O'Brien R. L., Happ M. P., Dallas A., Cranfill R., Hall L., Lang J., Fu Y. X., Kubo R., Born W. Recognition of a single hsp-60 epitope by an entire subset of gamma delta T lymphocytes. Immunol Rev. 1991 Jun;121:155–170. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.1991.tb00827.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Parker C. M., Groh V., Band H., Porcelli S. A., Morita C., Fabbi M., Glass D., Strominger J. L., Brenner M. B. Evidence for extrathymic changes in the T cell receptor gamma/delta repertoire. J Exp Med. 1990 May 1;171(5):1597–1612. doi: 10.1084/jem.171.5.1597. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Pfeffer K., Schoel B., Gulle H., Kaufmann S. H., Wagner H. Human gamma/delta T cells responding to mycobacteria. Behring Inst Mitt. 1991 Feb;(88):36–42. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Pfeffer K., Schoel B., Gulle H., Kaufmann S. H., Wagner H. Primary responses of human T cells to mycobacteria: a frequent set of gamma/delta T cells are stimulated by protease-resistant ligands. Eur J Immunol. 1990 May;20(5):1175–1179. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830200534. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Pfeffer K., Schoel B., Plesnila N., Lipford G. B., Kromer S., Deusch K., Wagner H. A lectin-binding, protease-resistant mycobacterial ligand specifically activates V gamma 9+ human gamma delta T cells. J Immunol. 1992 Jan 15;148(2):575–583. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Raulet D. H. The structure, function, and molecular genetics of the gamma/delta T cell receptor. Annu Rev Immunol. 1989;7:175–207. doi: 10.1146/annurev.iy.07.040189.001135. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Rust C. J., Verreck F., Vietor H., Koning F. Specific recognition of staphylococcal enterotoxin A by human T cells bearing receptors with the V gamma 9 region. Nature. 1990 Aug 9;346(6284):572–574. doi: 10.1038/346572a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Smith M. D., Worman C., Yüksel F., Yüksel B., Moretta L., Ciccone E., Grossi C. E., MacKenzie L., Lydyard P. M. T gamma delta-cell subsets in cord and adult blood. Scand J Immunol. 1990 Nov;32(5):491–495. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1990.tb03189.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sturm E., Braakman E., Fisch P., Vreugdenhil R. J., Sondel P., Bolhuis R. L. Human V gamma 9-V delta 2 T cell receptor-gamma delta lymphocytes show specificity to Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells. J Immunol. 1990 Nov 15;145(10):3202–3208. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Taswell C. Limiting dilution assays for the determination of immunocompetent cell frequencies. III. Validity tests for the single-hit Poisson model. J Immunol Methods. 1984 Aug 3;72(1):29–40. doi: 10.1016/0022-1759(84)90430-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Triebel F., Faure F., Graziani M., Jitsukawa S., Lefranc M. P., Hercend T. A unique V-J-C-rearranged gene encodes a gamma protein expressed on the majority of CD3+ T cell receptor-alpha/beta- circulating lymphocytes. J Exp Med. 1988 Feb 1;167(2):694–699. doi: 10.1084/jem.167.2.694. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Triebel F., Faure F., Mami-Chouaib F., Jitsukawa S., Griscelli A., Genevée C., Roman-Roman S., Hercend T. A novel human V delta gene expressed predominantly in the Ti gamma A fraction of gamma/delta+ peripheral lymphocytes. Eur J Immunol. 1988 Dec;18(12):2021–2027. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830181223. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Uyemura K., Deans R. J., Band H., Ohmen J., Panchamoorthy G., Morita C. T., Rea T. H., Modlin R. L. Evidence for clonal selection of gamma/delta T cells in response to a human pathogen. J Exp Med. 1991 Sep 1;174(3):683–692. doi: 10.1084/jem.174.3.683. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES