Metal-specific CD4+ T-cell responses induced by beryllium exposure in HLA-DP2 transgenic mice

Mucosal Immunol. 2016 Jan;9(1):218-28. doi: 10.1038/mi.2015.54. Epub 2015 Jul 1.

Abstract

Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is a granulomatous lung disorder that is associated with the accumulation of beryllium (Be)-specific CD4(+) T cells into the lung. Genetic susceptibility is linked to HLA-DPB1 alleles that possess a glutamic acid at position 69 (βGlu69), and HLA-DPB1*02:01 is the most prevalent βGlu69-containing allele. Using HLA-DP2 transgenic (Tg) mice, we developed a model of CBD that replicates the major features of the human disease. Here we characterized the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of Be-responsive CD4(+) T cells derived from the lungs of Be oxide-exposed HLA-DP2 Tg mice. The majority of Be-specific T-cell hybridomas expressed TCR Vβ6, and a subset of these hybridomas expressed identical or nearly identical β-chains that were paired with different α-chains. We delineated mimotopes that bind to HLA-DP2 and form a complex recognized by Be-specific CD4(+) T cells in the absence of Be. These Be-independent peptides possess an arginine at p5 and a tryptophan at p7 that surround the Be-binding site within the HLA-DP2 acidic pocket and likely induce charge and conformational changes that mimic those induced by the Be(2+) cation. Collectively, these data highlight the interplay between peptides and Be in the generation of an adaptive immune response in metal-induced hypersensitivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Berylliosis / etiology
  • Berylliosis / genetics
  • Berylliosis / immunology*
  • Berylliosis / pathology
  • Beryllium / toxicity
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / chemistry
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains / chemistry
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains / genetics
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Hybridomas / chemistry
  • Hybridomas / immunology
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / chemistry
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology*
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains
  • HLA-DPw2 antigen
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • beryllium oxide
  • Beryllium