In vivo longitudinal analysis of a dominant TCR repertoire selected in human response to influenza virus

Virology. 1997 Jun 23;233(1):93-104. doi: 10.1006/viro.1997.8604.

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated biased usage of TCR V beta 17 and a high degree of diversity in J beta usage within the influenza virus matrix epitope (M.58-66)-specific CTL response. In contrast, in the course of a study on the cellular response to influenza A virus, we found preferential usage of V beta 17-J beta 2.2 rearrangement in an individual with an unexpectedly high number of CTL precursors (CTLp). We took advantage of such situation to study the longitudinal repertoire of the CD8+ T cell precursors. By limiting dilution analysis combined with the use of a clonotypic primer corresponding to the CDR3 region of this matrix-specific TCR V beta chain, the influenza-specific CTLp were shown to be stable for a period of 6 years. Overall, our results show that virus-specific CTLp can be directly monitored in vivo by molecular fingerprinting without in vitro restimulation. These findings might be extremely important for evaluation of the specific immune response to a given human pathogen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chick Embryo
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Nucleoproteins / immunology*
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / immunology
  • RNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • Viral Core Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • M-protein, influenza virus
  • NP protein, Influenza A virus
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Nucleoproteins
  • Peptides
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Viral Core Proteins
  • Viral Matrix Proteins