Fine specificity and antigen receptor expression among influenza virus-specific cytolytic T lymphocyte clones.
Influenza virus stimulates a vigorous cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) response in the mouse that is directed to several virion polypeptides. This report examines the fine specificity of a panel of murine influenza-specific CTL clones restricted by MHC class I products of the H-2d haplotype. Ten of 22 A/JAPAN/305/57-specific CTL clones analyzed were directed to the A/JAPAN/305/57 hemagglutinin protein as detected by using target cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing hemagglutinin gene. Based on their fine specificity of hemagglutinin recognition, these clones defined four functional epitopes on the hemagglutinin. The remaining 12 cytolytic clones exhibited cross-reactivity for type A influenza viruses of the major human subtypes, and approximately 60% of these clones were directed to the nucleocapsid protein. KJ16-133 monoclonal antibody analysis of the utilization of the T cell receptor V beta 8 gene segment subfamily revealed that members of this V beta gene subfamily are expressed by both hemagglutinin- and nucleocapsid-specific MHC class I-restricted CTL (and by influenza-specific MHC class II-restricted T lymphocytes as well). These results suggest that CTL detect several distinct antigenic sites on the hemagglutinin. In addition, these results reveal no direct correlation between viral antigenic specificity and V beta gene expression by these virus-specific CLT clones.
D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000939:Epitopes; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D014764:Viral Proteins