Complex T cell memory repertoires participate in recall responses at extremes of antigenic load.
The CD8 T cell memory response to the HLA-A2-restricted influenza epitope M1(58-66) can be an instructive model of immune memory to a nonevolving epitope of a frequently encountered pathogen that undergoes clearance. This memory repertoire can be complex, composed of a large number of clonotypes represented at low copy numbers, while maintaining a focus on the use of VB17 T cell receptors with identified Ag recognition motifs. Such a repertoire structure might provide a panoply of clonotypes whose differential avidity for the epitope would allow responses under varying antigenic loads. This possibility was tested experimentally by characterizing the responding repertoire in vitro while varying influenza Ag concentration over five orders of magnitude. At higher and lower Ag concentrations there was increased cell death, yet a focused but diverse response could still be observed. Thus, one of the characteristics of complex memory repertoires is to provide effector function at extremes of Ag load, a characteristic that is not generally considered in vaccination development but may be important in measuring its efficacy.
Naumov
Yuri N
YN
Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. yuri.naumov@umassmed.edu
Naumova
Elena N
EN
Clute
Shalyn C
SC
Watkin
Levi B
LB
Kota
Kalyani
K
Gorski
Jack
J
Selin
Liisa K
LK
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; C488936:M1 protein, Influenza A virus; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins