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Lipopeptides of Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface proteins induce Th1 phenotype development in alphabeta T-cell receptor transgenic mice

Induction of the appropriate T helper cell (Th) subset is crucial for the resolution of infectious diseases and the prevention of immunopathology. Some pathogens preferentially induce Th1 or Th2 responses. How microorganisms influence Th phenotype development is unknown. We asked if Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete which causes Lyme arthritis, can promote a cytokine milieu in which T cells which are not specific for B. burgdorferi are induced to produce proinflammatory cytokines. Using alphabeta T-cell receptor transgenic mice as a source of T cells with a defined specificity other than for B. burgdorferi, we found that B. burgdorferi induced Th1 phenotype development in ovalbumin-specific transgenic T cells. Small synthetic lipopeptides corresponding to the N-terminal sequences of B. burgdorferi outer surface lipoproteins had similar effects. B. burgdorferi and its lipopeptides induced host cells to produce interleukin-12. When the peptides were used in delipidated form, they did not induce Th1 development. These findings may be of pathogenic importance, since it is currently assumed that a Th2-mediated antibody response is protective against B. burgdorferi. Bacteria associated with reactive arthritis, namely, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella enteritidis, had different effects. The molecular definition of pathogen-host interactions determining cytokine production should facilitate rational therapeutic interventions directing the host response towards the desired cytokine response. Here, we describe small synthetic molecules capable of inducing Th1 phenotype development.