Fine specificity analysis indicates that the primary and secondary fluorescein-specific cytotoxic T cell receptor repertoires are indistinguishable.
Previous data from this laboratory have shown that fluorescein-specific cytotoxic T cells derived from naive mice are capable of distinguishing between different isomeric forms of the fluorescein hapten, as well as between the iodoacetamido-, isothiocyanate- and dichlorotriazinyl amino-fluorescein derivatives. In this report, we show that T cells derived from previously immunized animals, while demonstrating a stronger and more cross-reactive response overall, display identical fine specificity patterns to those of primary T cells for a panel of fluorescein homologues. We interpret this finding to indicate that the antigen receptor repertoires utilized by primary and secondary cytotoxic T cells are indistinguishable and that the enhanced response of memory as compared with naive CTL results from factors such as a higher density of cell surface receptors or receptor-associated molecules and/or a higher frequency of antigen-responsive T cells.
Hughes
E A
EA
Department of Immunology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Kinnel
G
G
Wickerham
C
C
Atkeson
B
B
Owen
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000939:Epitopes; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006241:Haptens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell