Antigen-specific expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in acute measles virus infection

Abstract

Skewing of the T-cell receptor repertoire of CD8(+) T cells has been shown in some persistent infections with viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus, simian immunodeficiency virus, and Epstein-Barr virus. We have demonstrated that similar distortions also occur in nonpersistent measles virus infection. In addition, two of four children immunized with live, attenuated measles virus showed larger and more persistent CD8(+) T-cell expansions than their naturally infected counterparts. The expanded lymphocyte populations were monoclonal or oligoclonal and lysed target cells infected with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing measles virus protein. These results demonstrate that the expansions of CD8(+) T lymphocytes are antigen driven.

FIG. 1

Cytotoxic activity from patients with acute MV infection was tested before and after depleting Vβ expansions from PBMC. The percent specific lysis of target cells expressing vaccinia virus recombinants expressing fusion protein (F) and hemagglutinin (H) was shown. In patients M152 and M342, all the expanded T cells were removed. In patient M111, only 2 of 4 Vβ expansions were depleted. Patient M132, who had no particular TCR expansion, was used as negative control. PBMC of these patients were also tested for cytotoxic activity against β-galactosidase-expressing vaccinia virus, on a different occasion, as a control. All samples had less than 5% killing against this recombinant.