In vivo γδ T Cell Priming to Mycobacterial Antigens by Primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Exposure to Nonpeptidic Ligands

1999

The recognition of phosphorylated nonpeptidic microbial metabolites by Vγ9Vδ2 T cells does not appear to require the presence of MHC molecules or antigen processing, permitting rapid responses against microbial pathogens. These may constitute an important area of natural anti-infectious immunity. To provide evidence of their involvement in immune reactivities against mycobacteria, we measured the responsiveness of peripheral blood Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in children with primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infections. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 22 children with MTB infections and 16 positivity of tuberculin (PPD)-negative healthy children were exposed to nonpeptidic antigens in vit…