T-cell receptor bias in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

• Published in: Human immunology 2002-04, Vol.63 (4), p.286-294
• Main Authors: Chauhan, Bela, Hutcheson, Patricia S, Slavin, Raymond G, Bellone, Clifford J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Antigens, Plant; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary - blood; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Fungal Proteins - immunology; Gene Expression; HLA-DR2 Antigen - immunology; HLA-DR5 Antigen - immunology; Humans; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - genetics; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0198-8859
• DOI: 10.1016/S0198-8859(02)00361-0

CD4(+) Th2 helper cell mediated immune responses have been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ABPA. HLA and TCR are the candidate genes, which can influence the specificity of these responses. We have previously established a strong association of HLA DR2/5 in ABPA susceptibility. The study was designed to determine whether allergen specific T cell express a limited usage of T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta gene repertoire in ABPA and to find an association of susceptible HLA-DR determinants with the identified TCR gene segments. TCR Vbeta typing was performed on antigen specific T cell lines from 14 ABPA and 12 nonABPA patients. The majority of ABPA patients (86%) expressed allergen specific T cells with Vbeta13 genes indicating its role in susceptibility, whereas in nonABPA controls, Vbeta1 genes T cell repertoires were predominantly expressed. The unrestricted pattern of Vbeta gene amplification seen before antigen stimulation suggests an oligoclonal expansion of a specific T cell population in response to the allergen Asp f 1 in ABPA and nonABPA patients. The increased usage of Vbeta13 in ABPA and Vbeta1 in nonABPA indicates their importance in susceptibility and resistance, respectively.