TY - JOUR AU - Falta, Michael T. AU - Crawford, Jeremy C. AU - Tinega, Alex N. AU - Landry, Laurie G. AU - Crawford, Frances AU - Mack, Douglas G. AU - Martin, Allison K. AU - Atif, Shaikh M. AU - Li, Li AU - Santos, Radleigh G. AU - Nakayama, Maki AU - Kappler, John W. AU - Maier, Lisa A. AU - Thomas, Paul G. AU - Pinilla, Clemencia AU - Fontenot, Andrew P. T1 - Beryllium-specific CD4+ T cells induced by chemokine neoantigens perpetuate inflammation PY - 2021/05/03/ AB - Discovering dominant epitopes for T cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, in human immune-mediated diseases remains a significant challenge. Here, we used bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from HLA-DP2–expressing patients with chronic beryllium disease (CBD), a debilitating granulomatous lung disorder characterized by accumulations of beryllium-specific (Be-specific) CD4+ T cells in the lung. We discovered lung-resident CD4+ T cells that expressed a disease-specific public CDR3β T cell receptor motif and were specific to Be-modified self-peptides derived from C-C motif ligand 4 (CCL4) and CCL3. HLA-DP2–CCL/Be tetramer staining confirmed that these chemokine-derived peptides represented major antigenic targets in CBD. Furthermore, Be induced CCL3 and CCL4 secretion in the lungs of mice and humans. In a murine model of CBD, the addition of LPS to Be oxide exposure enhanced CCL4 and CCL3 secretion in the lung and significantly increased the number and percentage of CD4+ T cells specific for the HLA-DP2–CCL/Be epitope. Thus, we demonstrate a direct link between Be-induced innate production of chemokines and the development of a robust adaptive immune response to those same chemokines presented as Be-modified self-peptides, creating a cycle of innate and adaptive immune activation. JF - The Journal of Clinical Investigation JA - J Clin Invest SN - 0021-9738 DO - 10.1172/JCI144864 VL - 131 IS - 9 UR - https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI144864 PB - The American Society for Clinical Investigation ER -