Peptide-induced memory (IgG) response, cross-reactive with native proteins, requires covalent linkage of a specific B cell epitope with a T cell epitope.
In order to raise antibodies synthetic peptides are often coupled to a carrier protein to provide the necessary T cell determinants. Alternatively, a short synthetic determinant with a distinct sequence motif which can be presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II to T cells, can be linked directly to a B cell epitope. Recently, it has been suggested that covalent linkage between a class II-presentable T helper peptide and a B cell epitope is not required to induce antibodies against a B cell determinant (Sarobe et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 1991. 21: 1555). Therefore, we investigated the ability of an H-2d-restricted T cell determinant (AA 111-120 FERFEIFPKEK) from the influenza virus hemagglutinin, to support B cell responses to different proven B cell determinant peptides, derived from human alpha 1-antitrypsin. Antibodies against B cell epitopes crossreactive with native alpha 1-antitrypsin could be raised only when these B epitope peptides were covalently coupled to the T cell determinant through a peptide bond. No antibodies were raised against the B cell epitope when the free peptides (T and B cell epitopes) were just mixed or when the T cell epitope was conjugated via m-maleimidobenzoyl succinimide ester or bis-maleimidohexane to the B cell determinant. Antibodies against the T cell determinant were raised in all cases, regardless of the mode of presentation: just mixed with or covalently coupled to the B cell determinant. The results indicate that a covalent bond between T cell and B cell determinants in general is needed to induce anti B cell determinant antibodies cross-reactive with the native protein.
Zegers
N D
ND
Dept. Immunology and Med. Microbiology, TNO Medical Biological Laboratory, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
van Holten
C
C
Claasen
E
E
Boersma
W J
WJ
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010455:Peptides; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin