T cell molecular mimicry and rheumatic heart disease

摘要

The autoimmune reactions in rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) patients involve a complex network of events that lead to heart inflammation and trigger permanent and progressive valvular lesions in RHD. We described immunodominant streptococcal M peptides cross-reactive with human proteins recognized by heart-infiltrating T cell clones from RHD patients. The oligoclonality of these cells were assessed by the analysis of their T cell receptor (TCR) and showed that the same T cell clone recognized several antigens. Th1 cytokine profile was dominant. Valvular antigen-specific T cell clones did not produce EL-4, in agreement with previous results.