Phenotypes indicating cytolytic properties of Borrelia-specific interferon-gamma secreting cells in chronic Lyme neuroborreliosis

J Neuroimmunol. 2003 Dec;145(1-2):115-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2003.08.037.

Abstract

The immuno-pathogenetic mechanisms underlying chronic Lyme neuroborreliosis are mainly unknown. Human Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) infection is associated with Bb-specific secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which may be important for the elimination of Bb, but this may also cause tissue injury. In order to increase the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in chronic neuroborreliosis, we investigated which cell types that secrete IFN-gamma. Blood mononuclear cells from 13 patients with neuroborreliosis and/or acrodermatitis chronicum atrophicans were stimulated with Bb antigen and the phenotypes of the induced IFN-gamma-secreting cells were analyzed with three different approaches. Cells expressing CD8 or TCRgammadelta, which both have cytolytic properties, were the main phenotypes of IFN-gamma-secreting cells, indicating that tissue injury in chronic neuroborreliosis may be mediated by cytotoxic cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Blocking / pharmacology
  • Antigens, CD1 / immunology
  • Antigens, CD1d
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD56 Antigen / analysis
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunomagnetic Separation
  • Immunophenotyping*
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Fluid / chemistry
  • Intracellular Fluid / immunology
  • Intracellular Fluid / microbiology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / chemistry
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism*
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / immunology*
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / metabolism*
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / analysis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / biosynthesis
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antigens, CD1
  • Antigens, CD1d
  • CD1C protein, human
  • CD1D protein, human
  • CD1a antigen
  • CD56 Antigen
  • Glycoproteins
  • HLA Antigens
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Interferon-gamma