In:
The Journal of Immunology, The American Association of Immunologists, Vol. 183, No. 4 ( 2009-08-15), p. 2659-2668
Abstract:
The ESAT-6 (early secretory antigenic target) molecule is a very important target for T cell recognition during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although ESAT-6 contains numerous potential T cell epitopes, the immune response during infection is often focused toward a few immunodominant epitopes. By immunization with individual overlapping synthetic peptides in cationic liposomes (cationic adjuvant formulation, CAF01) we demonstrate that the ESAT-6 molecule contains several subdominant epitopes that are not recognized in H-2d/b mice either during tuberculosis infection or after immunization with ESAT-6/CAF01. Immunization with a truncated ESAT-6 molecule (Δ15ESAT-6) that lacks the immunodominant ESAT-61–15 epitope refocuses the response to include T cells directed to these subdominant epitopes. After aerosol infection of immunized mice, T cells directed to both dominant (ESAT-6-immunized) and subdominant epitopes (Δ15ESAT-6-immunized) proliferate and are recruited to the lung. The vaccine-promoted response consists mainly of double- (TNF-α and IL-2) or triple-positive (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2) polyfunctional T cells. This polyfunctional quality of the CD4+ T cell response is maintained unchanged even during the later stages of infection, whereas the naturally occurring infection stimulates a response to the ESAT-61–15 epitope that consist almost exclusively of CD4+ effector T cells. ESAT-6 and Δ15ESAT-6 both give significant protection against aerosol challenge with tuberculosis, but the most efficient protection against pulmonary infection is mediated by the subdominant T cell repertoire primed by Δ15ESAT-6.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1767
,
1550-6606
DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.0900947
Language:
English
Publisher:
The American Association of Immunologists
Publication Date:
2009
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475085-5
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