A 180-kilodalton protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis defined by a human T cell clone.

A high molecular weight protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) has been identified, that is recognized by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from several tuberculous patients and by a T cell clone derived from a patient with tuberculous pleurisy. Purification of this fraction demonstrated biological activity to reside in a 180-kDa protein component. This mycobacterial protein appears to exist in some, but not all mycobacteria as the clone reacts to M. tuberculosis, BCG M. kansasii, M. flavescens and M. fortuitum, but not to M. intracellulare, M. scrofulaceum or a variety of gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria, or to PPD. Specific anti-genic challenge of the T cell clone in the presence of irradiated antigen presenting cells results in proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Proliferation is restricted to HLA Class II antigens as antigenic recognition occurs only in the presence of either one of the two parental DR haplotypes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from several other patients with pulmonary tuberculosis also proliferate in response to this antigen, emphasizing the relevance of T cell cloning techniques in identifying important mycobacterial antigens.