Metal-specific CD4+ T cell responses induced by beryllium exposure in HLA-DP2 transgenic mice

Abstract Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is a granulomatous lung disorder that is associated with the accumulation of beryllium (Be)-specific CD4+ T cells into the lung. Genetic susceptibility is linked to HLA-DPB1 alleles that possess a glutamic acid at position 69 (βGlu69), and HLA-DPB1*02:01 is the most prevalent βGlu69-containing allele. Using HLA-DP2 transgenic (Tg) mice, we developed a model of CBD that replicates the major features of the human disease. Here, we characterized the T cell receptor repertoire of Be-responsive CD4+