Cytotoxic T lymphocytes discriminate between isomeric forms of the same hapten.
We have analysed the ability of fluorescein-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to lyse a variety of hapten-derived target cells. Our data demonstrate that: (i) fluorescein-specific CTLs distinguish between target cells conjugated with isomeric forms of the hapten in a way that is not attributable to differences in the target cell density of the two hapten isomers; (ii) the relative orientation of the haptenic moiety with respect to the target cell membrane is more important than the chemical nature of the hapten/protein linkage. We interpret these data as supporting a model of the T-cell receptor in which the elements that recognize the extrinsic and the restricting Class 1 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens are sterically constrained and unable to rotate independently of one another.
Owen
J A
JA
Scinto
L A
LA
Klein
L
L
Kline
C J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000276:immunology; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D007536:Isomerism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000276:immunology
D005452:Fluoresceins; D006241:Haptens; D013861:Thiocyanates; C039083:5-((4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino)fluorescein; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate