Murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition of individual influenza virus proteins. High frequency of nonresponder MHC class I alleles.
We determined the MHC restriction of CTL responses to five individual influenza virus proteins. Four viral proteins failed to be recognized in conjunction with three of the five class I alleles of the H-2k and H-2d haplotypes, while the fifth was recognized only in conjunction with a single allele. This indicates that there is a significant chance that a given class I allele will be associated with low responsiveness or nonresponsiveness for a given foreign protein. This explains, at least in part, why MHC-linked nonresponsiveness is frequently detected in polyclonal antiviral CTL responses. Most importantly, these findings support the idea that responsiveness to foreign antigens is a critical factor in maintaining the high degree of MHC class I polymorphism in outbred populations.
Bennink
J R
JR
Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Yewdell
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D006239:Haplotypes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D014764:Viral Proteins