Positive selection of a Qa-1-restricted T cell receptor with specificity for insulin.
The phenotype and development of T cells from transgenic mice expressing a T cell receptor with specificity for insulin presented by the MHC class Ib molecule Qa-1(b) was investigated. Peripheral T cells from the transgenic mice express CD8 and, after activation, kill Qa-1(b)-positive lymphoid target cells in the presence of soluble insulin. Thymic selection requires expression of Qa-1(b) but not the dominant Qa-1-associated peptide, Qdm. In contrast to conventional T cells, selection is at least as efficient when the selecting ligand is expressed only on hematopoietic lineage cells as compared to expression on epithelial cells in the thymus. Our findings suggest that there is a dedicated population of Qa-1-restricted T cells that are selected by interaction with Qa-1 and that the cellular requirements for selection may differ from conventional T cells.
Sullivan
Barbara A
BA
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Kraj
Piotr
P
Weber
Dominique A
DA
Ignatowicz
Leszek
L
Jensen
Peter E
PE
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000502:physiology*; D006825:Hybridomas; D007328:Insulin / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007328:Insulin; C032907:Q surface antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell