Th1 lymphokine production profiles of nickel-specific CD4+T-lymphocyte clones from nickel contact allergic and non-allergic individuals.

Panels of nickel-specific T-lymphocyte clones (TLC) were prepared from nickel-allergic and non-allergic donors. TLC from both panels showed similar levels of expression of TCR alpha/beta, CD4, CD2, CD25, and CD29 and recognized nickel in association with class II HLA molecules with restriction determinants in HLA-DR, HLA-DP, and HLA-DQ. The lymphokine secretion was analyzed in TLC from both panels upon antigen-specific or non-specific stimulation and was compared with the secretion profiles of representants of pre-established human atopen-specific Th1 and Th2 cells. Nickel-specific TLC from both panels showed a lymphokine secretion pattern similar to the atopen-specific Th1 cells, although there was some variation from clone to clone. Most TLC secreted substantial amounts of IFN-gamma, IL-2, TNF-alpha, and GM-CSF, but little or no IL-4 and IL-5. The variation observed mainly concerned IL-2 secretion that could be low or absent in some of the TLC. The general secretion pattern did not change upon different modes of stimulation, including activation via CD3, CD2, or CD28. Because nickel-specific TLC from allergic and non-allergic individuals show a similar Th1 secretion pattern, the present results give no evidence that aberrant lymphokine secretion by CD4+T cells determines the contact allergic state, as was found for atopic allergy in a previous study.