K. Himeno et H. Hisaeda, CONTRIBUTION OF 65-KDA HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN-INDUCED BY GAMMA-T-CELLS AND DELTA-T-CELLS TO PROTECTION AGAINST TOXOPLASMA-GONDII INFECTION, Immunologic research, 15(3), 1996, pp. 258-264
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are evolutionarily highly conserved polypep
tides synthesized by many cells to preserve cellular functions under a
variety of stressful conditions including infections. We have investi
gated the involvement of 65-kDa HSP (HSP65) in host protection against
an intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, in mice. Expe
riments using low and highly virulent strains of Tox. gondii revealed
that induction of murine HSP65 on macrophages closely correlates with
protection against infection with this protozoan. Furthermore, we clar
ified that T cells, especially gamma delta T cells, are indispensable
for HSP65 expression. A similar relationship between the expression of
HSP65 on host macrophages and protective immunity was observed in mic
e infected with Leishmania major and Trypanosoma cruzi, both of which
are obligate intracellular protozoa as is Tox. gondii.