Opa+ and Opa- isolates of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae induce sustained proliferative responses in human CD4+ T cells.

ABSTRACT: T cells may interact with a number of bacterial surface antigens, an encounter which has the potential to downmodulate host immune responses. Neisseria meningitidis, a human colonizer and an agent of septicemia and meningitis, expresses Opa proteins which interact with the CEACAM1 receptor expressed on activated T cells. Since CEACAM1 can act as an inhibitory receptor and T cells in subepithelial tissues may encounter whole bacteria, which often express Opa proteins in vivo, this study assessed primarily if Opa proteins expressed on meningococci affect T-cell functions. In addition, Opa-containing outer membrane vesicles (OMV) have been used as vaccine antigens, and therefore Opa+ and Opa- OMV were also studied. While Opa+ bacteria adhered to CEACAM-expressing T cells, both the Opa+ and Op

SUBMITTER: Youssef AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2772550 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature