Distinct recognition phenotypes exist for T cell clones specific for small peptide regions of proteins. Implications for the mechanisms underlying major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen recognition and clonal deletion models of immune response gene defects.
Using synthetic peptides as antigens, it was found that T cell clones of a given haplotype specific for 13-16 amino acid peptides could be clearly distinguished by the varied influence of amino acid substitutions on recognition. This was true for different antigenic determinants within peptides 81-96 and 74-86 of hen egg-white lysozyme, recognized in the context of the I-Ab and I-Ak molecules, respectively. Considerable complexity was demonstrated in the induced T cell repertoire specific for apparently single determinants, which implies that diversity of T cell recognition approaches that for B cells. The implications of the degeneracy of T cell recognition are discussed in the context of mechanisms through which Ia molecules restrict recognition and theories of Ir gene defects.
Shastri
N
N
Oki
A
A
Miller
A
A
Sercarz
E E
EE
D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008954:Models, Biological; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D009113:Muramidase