title: The comparative frequency of human T cells responding to a native antigen and a synthetic peptide derived from Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: The frequency of human peripheral blood T cells responding to a 21-residue synthetic peptide (SP 21) derived from the sequence of a 3.8-kDa streptococcal antigen was estimated by limiting dilution analysis and compared with the frequency of cells responding to the native, cross-reactive 185-kDa streptococcal antigen. Frequency estimates were made by measuring both [3H]thymidine incorporation and IL 2 production in the same cell cultures. The results provided frequency estimates for SP 21-reactive cells of between 1:42 147 and 1:306 110, with a mean of 1:160 617 by [3H]thymidine incorporation, and 1:139 893 to 1:241 315 (mean 1:165 315) using the IL 2 assay. With the native 185-kDa streptococcal antigen, frequency estimates were between 1:38 393 and 1:86 142 (mean 1:169 934) according to the proliferative response and 1:22 462 and 1:100 400 (mean 1:61 189) by the IL 2 assay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, United Medical School of Guy's Hospital London, U.K.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Childerstone
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rayfield
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Haron
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehner
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010455:Peptides; D013936:Thymidine