Saygili, TahsinAkincilar, Semih CanAkgul, BunyaminNalbant, Ayten2023-11-182023-11-182012151932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0049252https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049252http://standard-demo.gcris.com/handle/123456789/7087Akgül, Bünyamin/0000-0001-9877-9689; AKINCILAR, Semih Can/0000-0001-7588-2771One of the heat shock family protein (Hsp) expressing bacteria is the gram negative, periodontal pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). A. actinomycetemcomitans' Hsp is a 64-kDa GroEL-protein, which has been shown to influence the host cells. In this study we used recombinant A. actinomycetemcomitans GroEL (rAaGroEL) protein as a model antigen to study GroEL-mediated T cell immune response. Human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs), when stimulated with recombinant rAaGroEL, expressed early activation marker CD69 and IL-2R (CD25). CD25 and CD69 expressions were higher in CD4+ T cells compared to CD8+ T cells. rAaGroEL-responding CD4+ T cells expressed IL-10, IFN gamma and TNF alpha cytokines. Interestingly, there were also IL-10 and IFN gamma double cytokine producing CD4+ T cells. Additionally, IFN gamma expressing CD4+ T cells were also T-bet positive. Altogether the results suggest that rAaGroEL protein affects CD4+ T cells to differentiate into IFN gamma IL10-secreting T-bet+ Th1 cells.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess[No Keyword Available]Article