THE T-CELL MEDIATED IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI .1. GENERATION OF STAGE-SPECIFIC, MHC-RESTRICTED PROLIFERATIVE T-CELL CLONES TO SOLUBLE EGG ANTIGENS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (4) , 625-633
Abstract
A panel of T-cell clones reactive to the soluble egg antigen (SEA) of S. mansoni is described. The proliferative responses of the primary immune lymph node (LN) cells and T-cell clones to diferent schistosome antigen preparations [cercarial extract (CE), live or dead schistosomula, adult worm extract, and SEA] were compared. Primary immune LN cells could not distinguish between these schistosome antigen preparations. When a total of 22 T-cell clones was analyzed, a complex pattern of both stage-specific and common (or cross-reactive) antigen reactivity was observed. These patterns were grouped into 4 types: 5 clones were reactive to all schistosome antigen preparations; 2 clones were reactive only to SEA, CE and schistosomula; 3 clones were reactive only to SEA and cercariae; 12 clones were reactive to SEA alone. The T-cell clones were identified as Thy-1-positive cells. All the clones were able to respond to exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2) after antigenic stimulation. However, there was a variable degree of IL-2 responsiveness when compared with antigen-specific stimulation. Four T clones were selected for further studies on the genetic control of the proliferative response to schistosome antigens. One of the proliferative T clones is restricted by the IA subregion of the major histocompatibility complex, and the other 3 clones are restricted by the IE (AeE.alpha.) subregion.