T cells can be activated by peptides that are unrelated in sequence to their selecting peptide.
We tested the ability of CD4+ T cells, selected in the thymus by reaction with class II protein bound to a single peptide, to react with the same class II protein bound to other peptides. The T cells reacted with all peptides tested, including one that was quite unlike the selecting peptide in T cell receptor binding residues. The receptors on class II/peptide-reactive T cells from class II/single peptide mice were similar but not identical to some of those from normal animals. Thus, class II bound to a single peptide selects a subset of T cells that is related to that selected by class II bound to many peptides.
Ignatowicz
L
L
Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA.
Rees
W
W
Pacholczyk
R
R
Ignatowicz
H
H
Kushnir
E
E
Kappler
J
J
Marrack
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002469:Cell Separation; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta