Major histocompatibility complex-restricted recognition of retroviral superantigens by V beta 17+ T cells.
It has been established that at least some V beta 17+ T cells interact with an endogenous superantigen encoded by the murine retrovirus, Mtv-9. To analyze the role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules in presenting the Mtv-9 encoded superantigen, vSAG-9 to V beta 17+ hybridomas, a panel of nine hybridomas was tested for their ability to respond to A20/2J (H-2d) and LBK (H-2a) cells which had been transfected with the vSAG-9 gene. Whereas some of the hybridomas recognized vSAG-9 exclusively in the context of H-2a, other hybridomas recognized vSAG-9 exclusively in the context of H-2d or in the context of both H-2d and H-2a. These results suggest that: (a) the class II MHC molecule plays a direct role in the recognition of retroviral superantigen by T cells, rather than serving simply as a platform for presentation; and, (b) it is likely that components of the TCR other than V beta are involved in the vSAG-9/TCR/class II interaction.
Blackman
M A
MA
Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Lund
F E
FE
Surman
S
S
Corley
R B
RB
Woodland
D L
DL
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004768:Enterotoxins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; C019368:enterotoxin D, Staphylococcal