T cell receptor gene usage of BP180-specific T lymphocytes from patients with bullous pemphigoid and pemphigoid gestationis.

Abstract

BP180 is the autoantigen of different immunobullous diseases, including bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pemphigoid gestationis (PG). Previously, we demonstrated that the NC16A domain of this autoantigen harbors key epitopes of autoantibodies and T cells, indicating that it plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of diseases. Moreover, NC16A-specific T cell clones derived from these patients were shown to express a CD4+ memory T cell phenotype and secrete cytokines that may promote autoantibody production. In this study, we further characterize the properties of these T cells by analyzing their epitope specificity and T cell receptor (TCR) gene usage. We discovered that 83% of T cell clones obtained from BP patients preferentially express TCRBV13, while clones derived from a PG patient express the TCRBV3 gene. However, no preferential TCRBJ gene usage was identified. In conclusion, our results provide an advanced understanding of the characteristics of autoimmune T cells in immunobullous diseases.

• Authors: Mary K Hacker-Foegen, Detlef Zillikens, George J Giudice, Mong-Shang Lin
• Journal: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) (Clin Immunol) Vol. 113 Issue 2 Pg. 179-86 (Nov 2004) ISSN: 1521-6616 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15451475 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Autoantigens
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• Non-Fibrillar Collagens
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Autoantigens (immunology)
• Base Sequence
• Cells, Cultured
• Clone Cells
• Epitope Mapping
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (immunology)
• Genes, T-Cell Receptor
• Humans
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Non-Fibrillar Collagens (immunology)
• Pemphigoid, Bullous (immunology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta (genetics)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Collagen Type XVII