Lymphocytes bearing antigen-specific γδ T-cell receptors accumulate in human infectious disease lesions (original) (raw)

Nature volume 339, pages 544–548 (1989) Cite this article

Abstract

THE majority of T cells bear the T-cell receptor (TCR) αβ complex which recognizes foreign antigen peptides only in the context of self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules1. Such T cells function in a variety of effector roles and secrete cytokines that mediate the activation and differentiation of other cells in the immune system. Recently, a small subpopulation T cells was found to bear a distinct TCR composed of γ and δ subunits2. In man, TCR γδ+ cells are distributed as ~5 per cent of the CD3+ cells in all organized lymphoid organs as well as in the skin- and gut-associated lymphoid tissues3. Although a limited number of germ-line genes encode the TCR γ and δ subunits, extensive junctional variation particularly in the δ gene, results in unprecedented diversity for this receptor4,5 The nature of the specificity and immunological functions of these T cells remains enigmatic. We report here that in contrast to the normal low frequency of γδ-bearing cells in lymphoid tissues, peripheral blood, or normal skin, the frequency is increased five to eightfold in particular granulomatous reactions of leprosy. TCR γδ+lymphocyte lines from these leprosy skin lesions proliferate in vitro specifically to mycobacterial antigens. This reactivity to foreign antigens appears to require presentation in the context of self-molecules. Moreover, culture supernatants from activated γδT lymphocytes induce adhesion and aggregation of bone-marrow monocytes in the presence of granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor (CSF), suggesting that products of γδ-bearing T cells may play a role in the immune response, possibly by stimulating granuloma formation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Dermatology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, 90033, USA
    Robert. L. Modlin, Victoria Torigian & Thomas H. Rea
  2. Department of Pathology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, 90033, USA
    Robert. L. Modlin, Claude Pirmez, Florence M. Hofman, Victoria Torigian & Koichi Uyemura
  3. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, 10461, USA
    Barry R. Bloom
  4. Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
    Michael B. Brenner

Authors

  1. Robert. L. Modlin
  2. Claude Pirmez
  3. Florence M. Hofman
  4. Victoria Torigian
  5. Koichi Uyemura
  6. Thomas H. Rea
  7. Barry R. Bloom
  8. Michael B. Brenner

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Modlin, R., Pirmez, C., Hofman, F. et al. Lymphocytes bearing antigen-specific γδ T-cell receptors accumulate in human infectious disease lesions.Nature 339, 544–548 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/339544a0

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