T-cell receptor Vβ repertoire of CD8+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2015 Aug;110(5):596-605. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760150039. Epub 2015 Jun 24.

Abstract

In human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the immune response is mainly mediated by T-cells. The role of CD8+ T-lymphocytes, which are related to healing or deleterious functions, in affecting clinical outcome is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate T-cell receptor diversity in late-differentiated effector (LDE) and memory CD8+ T-cell subsets in order to create a profile of specific clones engaged in deleterious or protective CL immune responses. Healthy subjects, patients with active disease (PAD) and clinically cured patients were enrolled in the study. Total CD8+ T-lymphocytes showed a disturbance in the expression of the Vβ2, Vβ9, Vβ13.2, Vβ18 and Vβ23 families. The analyses of CD8+T-lymphocyte subsets showed high frequencies of LDE CD8+T-lymphocytes expressing Vβ12 and Vβ22 in PAD, as well as effector-memory CD8+ T-cells expressing Vβ22. We also observed low frequencies of effector and central-memory CD8+ T-cells expressing Vβ2 in PAD, which correlated with a greater lesion size. Particular Vβ expansions point to CD8+ T-cell clones that are selected during CL immune responses, suggesting that CD8+ T-lymphocytes expressing Vβ12 or Vβ22 are involved in a LDE response and that Vβ2 contractions in memory CD8+T-cells are associated with larger lesions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brazil
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / analysis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell

Grants and funding

Financial support: IOC-FIOCRUZ, PROEP-CNPq-IOC (402557/211-5), FAPERJ APQ-1 (E-26/110.332/2014)