Induction of antigen-specific human cytotoxic T cells by Toxoplasma gondii

To further the understanding of the role of T cells in immunity to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, antigen-specific T cell clones were generated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seropositive individuals. Whole parasites were used to stimulate a proliferative expansion of antigen-reactive cells, followed by limiting dilution cloning in the presence of irradiated, autologous PBMC and rIL-2. Three parasite antigen-specific T cell clones expressing the CD3+ phenotype were selected for further characterization. Phenotypic analysis with monoclonal antibodies revealed two clones reactive with CD8 (RTg1 and RTg3) while the other (RTg2) phenotyped as CD4+, CD8-. When tested in a proliferation assay using a panel of different T. gondii proteins, clone RTg1 reacted with a single large protein (Mr greater than 180,000) as well as smaller components (less than 12,000), clone RTg2 reacted with a protein of Mr = 28,000 and clone RTg3 reacted with a protein of 116,000 plus smaller components (less than 12,000). Only the 28,000 = Mr antigen recognized by RTg2 was reactive on Western blot with autologous donor antisera. All three clones produced IFN-gamma and IL-2 in varying amounts upon antigenic stimulation in the presence of irradiated APC. Moreover, one clone RTg1, exhibited direct parasite cytotoxicity, inhibiting extracellular T. gondii by greater than 70% when incubated at an effector/target ratio of 40:1. This clone was alpha, beta TCR heterodimer positive and exerted its cytotoxic parasiticidal activity in the apparent absence of MHC restriction. The results provide evidence for the existence of circulating antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells in normal humans who are toxoplasma antibody seropositive.