Detection of a novel 40 000 MW excretory Toxoplasma gondii antigen by murine Th1 clone which induces toxoplasmacidal activity when exposed to infected macrophages

Abstract

To analyse target molecules of the CD4⁺ T-cell response to toxoplasma infection, a panel of Toxoplasma gondii-specific murine CD4⁺ T-cell clones has been established. Clone 3Tx15, belonging to the T helper 1 (Th1) subtype, abolished intracellular parasite growth when co-cultured with macrophages and live toxoplasma at a ratio of 2:2:1. This effect results from macrophage toxoplasmicidal activity induced upon parasite-dependent cellular interaction, an irrelevant Th1 clone failed in this three-party system. Clone 3Tx15 detects its corresponding antigen in the supernatant of infected cells and also reacts with a host cell-free preparation of T. gondii-excreted/secreted antigens. T-cell blot analysis of two-dimensionally separated toxoplasma lysate revealed a molecular weight of about 40 000 for the fractions stimulating clone 3Tx15. As checked in parallel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the 40 000 MW T-cell antigen co-migrates with the excretory protein GRA4, the sole 40 000 MW T. gondii antigen hitherto known to be recognized by T lymphocytes. Nevertheless, neither recombinant GRA4 nor immunoaffinity-purified natural GRA4 was stimulatory for clone 3Tx15. Our findings thus demonstrate that Th1 clone 3Tx15 which induces toxoplasmicidal activity during antigenic interaction with infected macrophages defines a new 40 000 MW excretory T. gondii antigen.