Activated mouse T cells downregulate, process and present their surface TCR to cognate anti-idiotypic CD4+ T cells.
The ability of activated T cells to present foreign antigens through the MHC class II pathway has been shown in the case of human, rat and mouse T cells. In the present study, the ability of activated T cells to present their endogenous TCR in association with MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells was shown. Upon activation mouse T cells downregulate their surface TCR, which are degraded into peptides in endosomal/lysosomal compartments. The idiopeptides (peptides derived from the variable region of the TCR) are presented to cognate anti-idiotypic CD4+ T cells, resulting in activation and proliferation of these cells. Interaction of idiotypic and anti-idiotypic T cells brought about by presentation of TCR idiopeptide may have important implications for T-cell vaccination and perpetuation of T-cell memory not requiring persisting antigen or long-lived memory cells.
Lal
Girdhari
G
Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
Shaila
Melkote S
MS
Nayak
Rabindranath
R
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D011992:Endosomes / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell