The influence of MHC gene products on the generation of an antigen-specific T-cell repertoire.
We have previously described the B10.A pigeon cytochrome c-specific response in terms of clonal phenotypes and T-cell receptor (TcR) gene usage. All B10.A T-cell clones studied respond to antigen in association with syngeneic B10.A APCs and cross-react to antigen in association with one or two allogeneic variants of the I-E-encoded MHC molecules. In congenic strains of mice expressing these allogeneic MHC alleles [B10.A(5R) and B10.S(9R)], pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cells exhibit very similar MHC cross-reactivities. Our goal was to determine whether the same MHC cross-reactive T-cell clones were expressed in each appropriate strain, or whether each T-cell repertoire was unique. The results indicate that identical V alpha-J alpha and V beta-J beta combinations were expressed by the major pigeon cytochrome c-specific response phenotype in B10.A and B10.A(5R) mice. Previous functional data supports this overlap in expressed T-cell clones. B10.A and B10.S(9R) mice exhibit similar response phenotypes to pigeon cytochrome c but express distinctly different TcR genes. The results of these studies support the existence of at least two different mechanisms in determining MHC-linked immune response polymorphisms.
Sorger
S B
SB
Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
Matis
L A
LA
Engel
I
I
McElligott
D L
DL
Fink
P J
PJ
Hedrick
S M
SM
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000276:immunology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004247:DNA