Human CD8 T lymphocytes recognize Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens presented by HLA‐E during active tuberculosis and express type 2 cytokines. Issue 4 (17th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caccamo, Nadia; Pietra, Gabriella; Sullivan, Lucy C.; Brooks, Andrew G.; Prezzemolo, Teresa; La Manna, Marco P.; Di Liberto, Diana; Joosten, Simone A.; van Meijgaarden, Krista E.; Di Carlo, Paola; Titone, Lucina; Moretta, Lorenzo; Mingari, Maria C.; Ottenhoff, Tom H. M.; Dieli, Francesco
• Is Part Of: European journal of immunology. Volume 45:Issue 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 1069
• Page End: 1081
• Publication Date: 2015-02-17
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.201445193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-2980

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>CD8 T cells contribute to protective immunity against <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic>. In humans, <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> reactive CD8 T cells typically recognize peptides associated to classical MHC class Ia molecules, but little information is available on CD8 T cells recognizing <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> Ags presented by nonclassical MHC class Ib molecules. We show here that CD8 T cells from tuberculosis (TB) patients recognize HLA‐E‐binding <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> peptides in a CD3/TCR αβ mediated and CD8‐dependent manner, and represent an additional type of effector cells playing a role in immune response to <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> during active infection. HLA‐E‐restricted recognition of <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> peptides is detectable by a significant enhanced ex vivo frequency of tetramer‐specific circulating CD8 T cells during active TB. These CD8 T cells produce type 2 cytokines upon antigenic in vitro stimulation, help B cells for Ab production, and mediate limited TRAIL‐dependent cytolytic and microbicidal activity toward <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> infected target cells. Our results, together with the finding that HLA‐E/<italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> peptide specific CD8 T cells are detected in TB patients with or without HIV coinfection, suggest that this is a new human T‐cell population that participates in immune response in TB.</p> </abstract>