Listeriolysin O-specific T cell (LLO-specific T cell)

Listeriolysin O-specific T cells are a specialized population of T lymphocytes that recognize and respond to epitopes derived from Listeriolysin O (LLO), a 58 kDa pore-forming toxin and primary virulence factor of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes (Hamon et al., 2012). These cells, comprising both CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic subsets, are essential for the adaptive immune clearance of Listeria infections by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and directly lysing infected host cells (Pamer, 2004). In modern biotechnology, these T cells are primarily relevant in the context of cancer immunotherapy, where live-attenuated Listeria strains are engineered to express LLO fused to tumor-associated antigens (Singh et al., 2011). This platform leverages the high immunogenicity of LLO to bypass immune tolerance and stimulate a robust, polyfunctional T-cell response against the tumor (Wallecha et al., 2009). While not a molecular target like a receptor or enzyme, the induction and frequency of LLO-specific T cells serve as critical biomarkers for assessing the potency and successful delivery of Listeria-based vaccine vectors in clinical trials (Singh et al., 2011).

Other names

LLO-reactive T cellsListeriolysin O-specific lymphocytesLLO-specific CD4+ T cellsLLO-specific CD8+ T cells

Induction of antigen-specific cellular immunity through the presentation of Listeriolysin O-derived peptides on MHC molecules by antigen-presenting cells, leading to the clonal expansion of LLO-reactive T lymphocytes.