Cross-reactive trinitrophenylated peptides as antigens for class II major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cells and inducers of contact sensitivity in mice. Limited T cell receptor repertoire.
The induction of contact sensitivity in mice by hapten reagents such as trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) involves the activation of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted, hapten-specific, CD4+ T cells. Reports from different laboratories have indicated that the relevant antigenic epitopes in such reactions might include hapten-conjugated, MHC class II-associated peptides. This study for the first time directly demonstrates that hapten-peptides account for the majority of determinants recognized by trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes. The sequences of those TNP carrier peptides do not have to be related to mouse proteins. Thus, we show that TNP-modified peptides derived from mouse IgG, pigeon cytochrome c or staphylococcal nuclease known to bind to I-Ab or from lambda repressor with specificity to I-Ad as well as TNP-proteins such as bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin or keyhole limpet hemocyanin all create class II-restricted hapten determinants for a number of TNP-specific T cell clones and hybridomas. All of these cells were induced with cells modified by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). In addition, we present arguments indicating that individual TNP-specific helper T cells may cross-react with different TNP-peptides bound to identical class II molecules. Chemical treatment of antigen-presenting cells with TNCB or TNBS may thus result in a limited number of particularly repetitive immunodominant hapten epitopes. Immunodominant epitopes were also indicated by an overrepresentation of the TCR elements V beta 2 and V alpha 10 in I-Ab/TNP-specific T cells. Most importantly, however, we demonstrate that TNP attached to lysine 97 in the staphylococcal nuclease peptide 93-105 (i.e. a clearly "non-self" sequence) is able to prime mice for subsequent elicitation of contact sensitivity by TNCB in the absence of foreign protein. We take this to indicate that those TNP-peptide determinants defined by us as immuno-dominant are responsible for the induction of contact sensitivity to haptens.
Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, FRG.
J
J
Kohler
S
S
Martin
U
U
Pflugfelder
H
H
Ruh
J
J
Vollmer
H U
HU
Weltzien
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes