Autoreactive T cells in healthy individuals

NA Danke, DM Koelle, C Yee, S Beheray… - The Journal of …, 2004 - journals.aai.org
NA Danke, DM Koelle, C Yee, S Beheray, WW Kwok
The Journal of Immunology, 2004journals.aai.org
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 …
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.
journals.aai.org