A single peptide-MHC complex positively selects a diverse and specific CD8 T cell repertoire.
Pathogen recognition by T cells is dependent on their exquisite specificity for self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules presenting a bound peptide. Although this specificity results from positive and negative selection of developing T cells in the thymus, the relative contribution of these two processes remains controversial. To address the relation between the selecting peptide-MHC complex and the specificity of mature T cells, we generated transgenic mice that express a single peptide-MHC class I complex. We demonstrate that positive selection of CD8 T cells in these mice results in an MHC-specific repertoire. Although selection on a single complex is peptide promiscuous, mature T cells are highly peptide specific. Thus, positive selection imparts MHC and peptide specificity on the peripheral CD8 T cell repertoire.
Wang
Baomei
B
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Primeau
Tina M
TM
Myers
Nancy
N
Rohrs
Henry W
HW
Gross
Michael L
ML
Lybarger
Lonnie
L
Hansen
Ted H
TH
Connolly
Janet M
JM
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018116:Vesiculovirus / Q000276:immunology
D006183:H-2 Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D010047:Ovalbumin