Specific lysis of targets expressing varicella-zoster virus gpI or gpIV by CD4+ human T-cell clones

J Virol. 1992 May;66(5):2664-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.66.5.2664-2669.1992.

Abstract

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific CD4-positive T cells are known to lyse targets expressing VZV antigen, but little is known of the glycoprotein specificity or phenotype of these cells. To test the ability of T cells to distinguish between gpI and gpIV (which share an antibody-defined epitope), we prepared clones from blood from four healthy individuals by limiting dilution. Among 68 T-cell clones from four donors which were VZV specific in tests of proliferation, 30 lysed autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts which had been superinfected with a recombinant vaccinia virus which included the whole VZV gpI sequence. These clones were characterized as major histocompatibility complex class II restricted by inhibition of their cytotoxicity with HLA-DR and CD4 monoclonal antibodies. Twenty-one clones lysed targets expressing gpIV. Fifteen of these clones lysed targets expressing gpI and gpIV. Four clones with gpI-gpIV specificity were examined in detail, and their dual specificity was confirmed by cold target inhibition. These four clones failed to kill target cells infected with a mutant gpIV recombinant vaccinia virus from which amino acid residues 212 to 354 had been deleted. This region includes one of the two gpIV decapeptides which have 50% homology with amino acids 111 to 121 of gpI. Our data confirm that T-cell-receptor-associated structures are required for specific lysis of VZV targets and indicate that (i) gpI-specific CD4 cytotoxic T cells outnumber gpIV-specific T cells in blood and (ii) 50% of gpI-specific T-cell clones also lyse gpIV-expressing targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Transformation, Viral
  • Clone Cells
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / pathogenicity*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein E, varicella-zoster virus
  • glycoprotein IV, varicella-zoster virus