This work is the first attempt to engineer iNKT cells by exogenous TCR genes and demonstrated that iNKT cell, as well as CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, can be genetically engineered to confer them a defined and alternative specificity, which provides new insights into TCR gene therapy for tuberculosis patients, especially those infected with drug-resistant Mtb.
P25 TCR-Tg T cells stimulated in vitro via TCR and TLR2 conferred more protection than T cells stimulated via TCR alone when adoptively transferred before MTB infection.
The skewed profile of TCR-BV gene families in TB children and BCG-vaccinated children are similar, which may probably explain the protective effects of BCG-vaccine against TB in children.
Cytokine profile, HLA restriction and TCR sequence analysis of human CD4+ T clones specific for an immunodominant epitope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 16-kDa protein.
Our recent studies in this endemic region have reiterated the association of HLA-DRB1*02 and its subtype DRB1*1501 with tuberculosis susceptibility and have identified an IL-10 associated disease susceptibility in HLAnon-DRB1*02, BCG scar negative individuals and a skewed usage of TCR Vb in BCG scar negative, HLA high risk allele carrying individuals.