ADULT WORM HOMOGENATE OF THE NEMATODE PARASITE HELIGMOSOMOIDES-POLYGYRUS INDUCES PROLIFERATION OF NAIVE T-LYMPHOCYTES WITHOUT MHC RESTRICTION

The documented in vitro response of mouse T cells to parasite antigens is typically anamnestic and H-2 restricted. As yet, there have been n o confirmed reports of the existence of a non-H-2-restricted, superant igen type of response to the antigens of metazoan parasites. Reported here are data which show that antigens produced by the adult stage of the nematode parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus (= Nematospiroides dub ius) can stimulate naive T cells in vitro to proliferate and produce I L-2. A series of T cell hybridomas has been used to show that adult wo rm homogenate of H. polygyrus can stimulate parasite antigen naive T c ells. This response is independent of the H-2 haplotype of the antigen -presenting accessory cells and does not appear to be influenced by th e presence or absence of an H-2 E molecule. However, successful presen tation of the H. polygyrus superantigen does require the presence of m etabolically active accessory cells and fixation of the accessory cell s with paraformaldehyde abrogates the response of the target cells. Th is discovery has important implications for the study of the role of s uperantigens in host/parasite interactions and will also help to expan d current knowledge about the relationship between chronic intestinal nematodes and the host immune system. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.