The specificity of lymphocyte proliferative responses of 22 family contacts and 7 patients with leprosy were analyzed using Ag fractions from soluble extracts of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fractions 10-100 kDa m.w. from each extract were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electroblotted to nitrocellulose membrane and solubilized for use in lymphocyte culture. The main immunogenic fractions for both contacts and patients had m.w. of 12,000 to 22,000, 35,000 to 40,000, and 65,000. Determinants which were either distinct or shared by the two extracts were active in each of the immunogenic fractions. Lymphocyte proliferation following stimulation with separated Ag was found also in five subjects who failed to respond to the whole soluble extracts. Stimulatory synthetic peptides were identified for the 65 kDa protein Ag. This technique has permitted the screening of the T cell immune repertoire for the identification of the immunodominant Ag which merit further purification and molecular characterization.
BT - Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2497176?dopt=Abstract DA - 1989 May 15 IS - 10 J2 - J. Immunol. LA - eng N2 -The specificity of lymphocyte proliferative responses of 22 family contacts and 7 patients with leprosy were analyzed using Ag fractions from soluble extracts of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fractions 10-100 kDa m.w. from each extract were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electroblotted to nitrocellulose membrane and solubilized for use in lymphocyte culture. The main immunogenic fractions for both contacts and patients had m.w. of 12,000 to 22,000, 35,000 to 40,000, and 65,000. Determinants which were either distinct or shared by the two extracts were active in each of the immunogenic fractions. Lymphocyte proliferation following stimulation with separated Ag was found also in five subjects who failed to respond to the whole soluble extracts. Stimulatory synthetic peptides were identified for the 65 kDa protein Ag. This technique has permitted the screening of the T cell immune repertoire for the identification of the immunodominant Ag which merit further purification and molecular characterization.
PY - 1989 SP - 3599 EP - 604 T2 - Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) TI - Molecular study of the T cell repertoire in family contacts and patients with leprosy. VL - 142 SN - 0022-1767 ER -