Universal Epitopes for Human CD4 super(+) Cells on Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxins

Previous studies suggested that tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (TTD and DTD, respectively) contain "universal" epitopes for human CD4 super(+) cells (residues 632-651 and 950-969 of TTD and 271-290, 321-350, 351-370, 411-430, and 431-450 of DTD). To investigate whether CD4 super(+) cells o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2000-03, Vol.181 (3), p.1001-1009
Main Authors: Diethelm-Okita, B M, Okita, D K, Banaszak, L, Conti-Fine, B M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CD4 antigen
Clostridium tetani
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
tetanus toxin
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Previous studies suggested that tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (TTD and DTD, respectively) contain "universal" epitopes for human CD4 super(+) cells (residues 632-651 and 950-969 of TTD and 271-290, 321-350, 351-370, 411-430, and 431-450 of DTD). To investigate whether CD4 super(+) cells of 100 randomly selected subjects recognized those sequences, the proliferation of CD4 super(+) cell-enriched blood lymphocytes to TTD and DTD and individual synthetic universal epitopes was measured. CD4 super(+) cells of 98 subjects recognized both toxoids, those of 1 subject only TTD, and those of 1 only DTD. The TTD peptides and DTD peptides 271-290 and 331-350 were recognized by greater than or equal to 80% of the toxoid-sensitized subjects. The other DTD sequences were recognized by 63%-71% of subjects. DR-homozygous subjects recognized several universal epitopes less frequently than did DR-heterozygous subjects. The intensity of responses to the epitope peptides correlated with that to TTD or DTD, consistent with recognition of the peptides by CD4 super(+) cells specific for the cognate toxoid.
ISSN:0022-1899