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Autoreactive T cells in healthy individuals.
| Title | Autoreactive T cells in healthy individuals. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2004 |
| Authors | Danke, NA, Koelle, DM, Yee, C, Beheray, S, Kwok, WW |
| Journal | J Immunol |
| Volume | 172 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Pagination | 5967-72 |
| Date Published | 2004 May 15 |
| ISSN | 0022-1767 |
| Keywords | Antigens, Neoplasm, Autoantigens, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Division, Cell Separation, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, Glutamate Decarboxylase, HLA-DR4 Antigen, Humans, Isoenzymes, Lymphocyte Activation, Lymphocyte Count, Membrane Proteins, Monophenol Monooxygenase, Peptide Fragments, Receptors, Interleukin-2, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory |
| Abstract | The presence of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of healthy human subjects was investigated after removal of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg). CD4(+) T cells that were directed against the type 1 diabetes-associated autoantigen glutamic acid decarboxylase 65, the melanocyte differentiation Ag tyrosinase, and the cancer/testis tumor Ag NY-ESO-1 were readily derived from PBMC of healthy individuals. These autoreactive T cells could be visualized, using Ag-specific class II tetramer reagents, in the peripheral blood of most individuals examined. Addition of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg back to the CD4(+)CD25(-) population suppressed the expansion of the autoreactive T cells. Autoreactive T cells were cloned based on tetramer binding, and expressed characteristic activation markers upon self-Ag stimulation. These results show that autoreactive T cells are present in most healthy individuals and that Treg likely play an important role of keeping these autoreactive T cells in check. |
| Alternate Journal | J. Immunol. |
| PubMed ID | 15128778 |
