Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii-specific T cells recovered from vitreous fluid of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
; 42(13): 3228-32, 2001 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11726627
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The mechanisms involved in reactivations of latent ocular Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) infections in immunocompetent patients are poorly understood. In view of the possible role of T cells in the immunopathogenesis of the disease, ocular infiltrating T cells obtained from patients with recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis were characterized phenotypically and functionally.METHODS:
Ocular infiltrating T cells were recovered from vitreous fluid (VF) samples of 10 patients with active recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis. Two patients with uveitis of other origins were included as control subjects. T-cell lines (TCLs) were generated by mitogenic stimulation and tested for reactivity to Tg and human retinal protein extracts. The TCLs of three patients were cloned by limiting dilution. Tg-reactive T-cell clones (TCCs) were characterized with respect to their phenotype, T-cell receptor variable (TCR V)-beta gene usage, HLA restriction, and cytokine secretion profile.RESULTS:
Reactivity to Tg could be detected only in the TCLs of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. None of the TCLs showed reactivity to human retinal antigens. All tested intraocular Tg-specific TCCs (n = 23) were CD3+CD4+ and displayed differential TCR Vbeta usage. Twenty-one TCCs were HLA-DR restricted and two TCCs were restricted by HLA-DP. The majority of the intraocular Tg-specific TCCs showed a bias toward a T-helper (Th)0-Th2 cytokine profile.CONCLUSIONS:
The data indicate that T cells specific for the triggering microorganism infiltrate the eye of patients with recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis. The functional characteristics of the VF-derived Tg-specific T cells and their presence at the site of inflammation suggest their involvement in the local inflammatory response of ocular toxoplasmosis.
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Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Toxoplasma
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Cuerpo Vítreo
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Linfocitos T
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Toxoplasmosis Ocular
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Animals
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article