Cutting edge: chemical dominance does not relate to immunodominance: studies of the CD4+ T cell response to a model antigen.
We have quantitated the major families of peptides from hen egg lysozyme (HEL) presented by MHC class II I-A(k) molecules. One striking feature is that the four epitopes are presented at levels that differ by as much as 200- to 300-fold. In these studies, we describe the CD4(+) T cell response to each epitope after immunization with several doses of hen egg lysozyme protein. Although fewer T cells were generated at lower doses, the surprising finding was the responses to all four peptides were maintained. The relative number of T cell clones to each of the four epitopes was influenced to a very limited degree by their levels of presentation at the lowest dose. In conclusion, under strong stimulatory conditions, there is not a direct relationship between levels of peptide presentation and the T cell responses.
DiPaolo
Richard J
RJ
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Unanue
Emil R
ER
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009113:Muramidase / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000941:Antigens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C421864:hen egg lysozyme; D009113:Muramidase