Purified MHC class I molecules present hapten-conjugated peptides to TNP/H-2Kb-specific T cell hybridomas.
Several trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific mouse cytotoxic T cell (CTL) clones recognize TNP-conjugated peptides in association with class I MHC Kb-molecules. Here we show that CD8+ T cell hybridomas derived from these CTL exhibit the same pattern of antigen-specificity as their parent CTL-clones. These T cell hybridomas reacted with TNBS- or TNP-peptide modified syngeneic target cells, and also with affinity purified, immobilized Kb-molecules preloaded with TNP-peptides. These findings demonstrate most directly that MHC-associated, haptenated peptides create functional antigenic epitopes for TNP-specific CTL. Furthermore, using purified Kb-molecules and a panel of Kb-binding TNP-conjugated peptides, we demonstrated that the epitope density is a critical factor in triggering these T cell hybridomas. Chemical modification of immobilized Kb-layers resulted in poor antigenicity, implying low epitope density and therefore arguing against covalent MHC-haptenization as a major source of T cell antigenic determinants.
von Bonin
A
A
Max-Planck Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Germany.
Martin
S
S
Plaga
S
S
Hebbelmann
S
S
Weltzien
H U
HU
D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D006241:Haptens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens; C032876:H-2Kb protein, mouse; D006241:Haptens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes