Class I MHC molecules rather than other mouse genes dictate influenza epitope recognition by cytotoxic T cells.
Influenza nucleoprotein (NP) is an important target antigen for influenza A virus cross-reactive cytotoxic T cells (Tc). Here we examine the NP epitope recognized by cloned and polyclonal BALB/c Tc and the genetics of this recognition pattern. We can define NP residues 147-161 as the epitope seen in conjunction with Kd, the only H-2d class I responder allele for NP restriction. H-2d/H-2b F1 mice (C57BL X DBA/2) primed by influenza infection lyse only H-2d target cells treated with peptide 147-161 while H-2b targets are recognized only after treatment with NP residues 365-379 (previously found to be recognized by Db restricted Tc cells). Tc cell recognition of NP peptide 147-161 is entirely dictated by expression of Kd and not by other B10 or C3H background genes of congenic mice. Restriction of a unique NP sequence by each responder class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele suggests that antigen and class I MHC interact for Tc recognition.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; C048842:NP protein, Influenza A virus; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins