T cell responses to Mls determinants are restricted by cross-reactive MHC determinants

The studies presented here investigated the relationship between T cell recognition of MHC-encoded products and non-MHC-linked Mls determinants. The first aspect addressed whether Mls-reactive T cells recognize Mls-encoded products alone or in association with MHC-encoded determinants. Initial studies used Mlsa-specific T cell clones that were generated by repeated stimulation of C57BL/6 or B10.A(5R) spleen cells with DBA/2 lymphoid cells. These clones recognized Mlsa on cells expressing MHC products of the H-2b, H-2d, and H-2k haplotypes, but not the H-2q haplotype. Thus, these cloned T cells were found to recognize Mlsa products in association with public but demonstrably polymorphic H-2 determinants. The question of whether T cell clones that were specific for self-H-2 determinants (autoreactive) or soluble antigen plus syngeneic H-2 (antigen-specific) could also be stimulated by Mlsa determinants was also addressed. A substantial proportion of the antigen-specific or autoreactive T cell clones tested were stimulated by Mlsa determinants. Furthermore, stimulation of these clones by Mlsa was H-2 restricted. The pattern of H-2-restricted recognition of Mlsa by these clones was not distinguishable from that observed in the Mlsa-specific T cell clones, nor was it influenced by the primary specificity or H-2 restriction pattern of a given clone. Although these findings provide a means of explaining the observation that Mls-reactive T cells exist at extremely high precursor frequencies, they also raise questions regarding the nature of the receptor structures which are used by a single T cell in the recognition of two or more apparently distinct stimuli.     

T cell lines with dual specificity for strong Mls and H-2 determinants

To examine the relationship of T cell specificity for Mls vs H-2 determinants, BALB/c (H-2d,Mlsb)(d,b) T cells were stimulated repeatedly in vitro with H-2-compatible, Mls-incompatible DBA/2(d,a) stimulators. This line of T cells gave strong mixed-lymphocyte reactions to the priming Mlsa determinants but, in addition, gave appreciable responses to various foreign H-2 determinants. When this T cell line was subsequently stimulated over a period of 2 mo with Mlsa-negative cells of a particular foreign H-2 haplotype, e.g., H-2k, the cells gave high responses to H-2k determinants but only very low responses to third-party H-2 determinants. Significantly, the cells retained high reactivity for Mlsa determinants. In other experiments, BALB/c T cells positively selected to Mlsa,d-negative H-2-incompatible stimulator cells retained high reactivity for Mlsa determinants. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi restricts the repertoire of parasite-specific CD8+ T cells leading to immunodominance

Interference or competition between CD8(+) T cells restricted by distinct MHC-I molecules can be a powerful means to establish an immunodominant response. However, its importance during infections is still questionable. In this study, we describe that following infection of mice with the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, an immunodominant CD8(+) T cell immune response is developed directed to an H-2K(b)-restricted epitope expressed by members of the trans-sialidase family of surface proteins. To determine whether this immunodominance was exerted over other non-H-2K(b)-restricted epitopes, we measured during infection of heterozygote mice, immune responses to three distinct epitopes, all expressed by members of the trans-sialidase family, recognized by H-2K(b)-, H-2K(k)-, or H-2K(d)-restricted CD8(+) T cells. Infected heterozygote or homozygote mice displayed comparably strong immune responses to the H-2K(b)-restricted immunodominant epitope. In contrast, H-2K(k)- or H-2K(d)-restricted immune responses were significantly impaired in heterozygote infected mice when compared with homozygote ones. This interference was not dependent on the dose of parasite or the timing of infection. Also, it was not seen in heterozygote mice immunized with recombinant adenoviruses expressing T. cruzi Ags. Finally, we observed that the immunodominance was circumvented by concomitant infection with two T. cruzi strains containing distinct immunodominant epitopes, suggesting that the operating mechanism most likely involves competition of T cells for limiting APCs. This type of interference never described during infection with a human parasite may represent a sophisticated strategy to restrict priming of CD8(+) T cells of distinct specificities, avoiding complete pathogen elimination by host effector cells, and thus favoring host parasitism.     

F1 hybrid anti-parental H-2k cell-mediated lympholysis. I. Stimulator and target determinants controlled by the H-2K region.

H-2k-heterozygous F1 hybrid mouse spleen cells cultured with irradiated H-2k-homozygous stimulator cells generated specific anti-parent cytolytic effectors. The parental antigenic determinants recognized by responder cells during induction (afferent arm) and by effector cells during cytolysis (efferent arm) were coded for, or regulated by, the H-2K-Hh3 region of the MHC, according to recombinant analysis. There were no detectable influences by other linked or unlinked genes on the phenotypic expression of parental antigens; however, the anti-parent responsiveness was modulated by background genes of responder cells. These experiments establish that the K end of H-2 controls determinants of F1 anti-parental H-2k CML, like the D end controls those of F1 anti-parental H-2b CML, thus confirming the basic symmetry of the H-2 complex. The relationship of this primary in vitro cell-mediated response with natural in vivo resistance to parental and allogeneic bone marrow grafts is discussed.     

Cell-mediated lympholysis responses against autologous cells modified with haptenic sulfhydryl reagents. IV. Self-determinants recognized by wild-type anti-H-2Kb and H-2Db-restricted cytotoxic T cells specific for sulfhydryl and amino-reactive haptens are absent in certain H-2 mutant strains

Virus-specific H-2-restricted cytotoxic T cells (CTL) have been found to discriminate between wild-type and mutant class I molecules. The only results reported concerning a hapten-self model, however, indicate that TNP-specific CTL do not discriminate between wild-type and mutant self determinants (7). In the present study, hapten-specific CTL generated against N-iodoacetyl-N'-(5-sulfonic-1-naphthyl) ethylene diamine-modified syngeneic cells (AED-self) were used to determine whether a hapten that is known to react with different cell surface sites than TNP can induce CTL that distinguish mutant H-2K and D molecules from those of wild type. The findings of this study indicate that H-2Kb-AED-self cytotoxic effector cells can discriminate between self-determinants of H-2Kb wild-type and the H-2bm1 and H-2bm11 mutants, but not between wild-type and the H-2bm6 and H-2bm9 mutants. H-2Db-AED-self effector cells were also found to discriminate between self-determinants of H-2Db wild-type and the H-2bm13 and H-2bm14 mutants. Furthermore, cold target competition experiments indicated that the bm1 and bm11 Kb products also lack some determinants recognized by anti-wild-type Kb TNP-specific CTL. These findings provide the first demonstration that hapten-self-specific effectors can detect alterations in H-2 mutant class I molecules. The results in the present report also support the hypothesis that haptens do not have to derivatize H-2 molecules in order to form antigens recognized by H-2-restricted CTL. These findings are discussed with respect to the involvement of self-determinants on MHC and non-MHC cell surface molecules.     

IgM induction in murine B hybridomas with Ia-restricted T cell clones: a monoclonal model for T and B cell interactions in antibody response

The mechanism of MHC-restricted T and B cell interactions in antibody response was studied with IgM-inducible B hybridomas and antigen-specific helper T cell clones. B hybridomas were prepared by fusion between splenic B cells from (CBA/N (H-2k) X BALB/c (H-2d)) F1 (NBF1) male mice and a B lymphoma cell line, M12.4.5. A B hybridoma clone, 1M70, which expressed I-Ad but not I-Ak determinants was chosen in the present study. IgM secretion was induced in 1M70 when it was cocultured with a "resting" KLH-specific and H-2d restricted helper T cell clone in the presence of KLH. A "resting" KLH-specific and H-2k restricted T cell clone did not induce IgM secretion in 1M70 even in the presence of KLH. However, when these KLH-specific T cell clones were activated by KLH and appropriate antigen presenting cells, both H-2d and H-2k restricted T cell clones induced IgM secretion in 1M70 even in the absence of KLH. A monoclonal anti-I-Ad antibody inhibited IgM secretion induced by a "resting" H-2d restricted T cell clone, but not by an "activated" T cell clone. These results indicated that T cell clones recognized antigens in the context of Ia molecules on B hybridomas in a MHC-restricted manner and were activated to produce B cell stimulatory factors which in turn acted on B hybridomas in a non-MHC-restricted manner and induced differentiation of B hybridomas into IgM secreting cells.     

Analysis of T hybridomas prepared from a T cell clone with three specificities. Recognition of self + X and allo-H-2 determinants segregates from recognition of Mlsa determinants

To see k information on T cell recognition of Mlsa determinants, hybridomas were prepared from a well-characterized F23.2+ (V beta 8.2+) T cell clone specific for three different ligands, i.e., 1) Mlsa determinants, 2) fowl gamma-globulin (F gamma G) plus self-H-2 (H-2d), and 3) allo-H-2, e.g., H-2p, determinants. Fusion of the clone to the BW5147 thymoma line produced a triple-reactive T hybridoma which generated two types of spontaneous variants. One type of variant (type I) lost Mlsa reactivity but retained reactivity to both F gamma G/H-2d and allo-H-2p. These variants, which were generated at high frequency, stained strongly with a mAb, A1.57, with idiotypic specificity for the TCR molecules of the parental clone. The second type of variant (type II) reacted to Mlsa determinants but showed no reactivity to F gamma G/H-2d or to allo-H-2p. These variants failed to express the A1.57 idiotypic determinants of the parent clone, but were F23.2+ (V beta 8.2+); nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis analysis suggested that these hybrids expressed a mixed TCR heterodimer composed of the parental clone beta-chain and the BW5147 alpha-chain. Three aspects of the data are very difficult to accommodate with the view that Mlsa, F gamma G, and allo-H-2 determinants are all recognized via a common TCR molecule: 1) the independent (and frequent) segregation of Mlsa reactivity from F gamma G/H-2d and allo-H-2p reactivity, 2) the retention of Mlsa reactivity by the type II variants despite loss of the parental clone alpha-chain, and 3) the loss of Mlsa reactivity by the type I variants despite high expression of the A1.57+ TcR molecules derived from the parental clone. The data support a model in which Mlsa determinants are recognized by a separate T cell structure, which we envisage as a monomorphic accessory molecule unrelated to the TCR. Since the type II hybridoma variants invariably retained quantitatively normal TcR expression, the triggering phase of anti-Mlsa responses appears to be TCR dependent. The model we favor is that anti-Mlsa/Mlsa interaction increases TCR binding with Ia epitopes to above the threshold required for cell triggering. A key feature of this model is that Mlsa and Ia determinants are recognized as separate structures rather than as a complex.     

The immunologic significance of variation within malaria circumsporozoite protein sequences

We have previously suggested that variation within the circumsporozoite protein of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum was the result of selection by immune T cells. Our hypothesis has been supported by experiments documenting a lack of cross-reactivity between variant peptides from the C-terminal region for murine T cells primed by 7G8-specific sequences. Now, by using a murine model we have found that peptides representing variant regions (amino acid residues 326-343 and 361-380) of two other parasite clones (Wel and LE5) are also immunodominant for murine T cells. However, there were distinct changes in response profiles. For example, whereas lymph node cells from H-2d and H mice immunized with peptides from the 326-343 region of all three variants proliferated in vitro after homologous challenge, only lymph node cells from H-2b mice immunized with LE5 peptide proliferate after homologous challenge. In contrast, only LE5 did not induce lymphoproliferation against homologous challenge in the H-2s background. These data suggest that the naturally occurring substitutions affect agretopic (i.e., Ia). Peptides from all variants representing the 361-380 domain were recognized only by T cells from H-2k mice. Also, in nearly all cases, T cells primed by one sequence did not recognize variant sequences. The immunodominance of these domains from three different clones and the lack of significant cross-reactivity further supports the hypothesis that variation is the result of T cell immune pressure.     

Molecular localization of allogeneic and self determinants recognized by bulk and clonal populations of cytotoxic T cells

The localization of MHC-encoded determinants recognized by hapten- and allo-specific cytotoxic T cells was analyzed with the use of cell lines expressing recombinant H-2Dd and H-2Ld MHC products. Bulk cultures of CTL against TNP-self, FITC-self, and AED-self recognized self determinants associated with the N/C1 domains of both Dd and Ld products. A number of allo- and hapten-specific CTL clones were also tested for recognition of the recombinant MHC products. The allo clones specific for Ld or Dd antigens recognized the respective N/C1-associated determinants. In addition, all clones generated against H-2q and known to cross-react with H-2Dd antigens recognized determinants associated with the N/C1-associated Dd determinants. Thus, some of the results obtained with CTL parallel, whereas others contrast with, those findings obtained with monoclonal anti-H-2 antibodies. Similar to the observations made with the monoclonal antibodies, no determinant as defined by T cells has been found to be lost as a result of the interaction between the N/C1 and C2/M domains of the Ld and Dd proteins. Nor did our studies detect the presence of new antigens resulting from the interaction of these gene products. However, the present T cell findings continue to contrast previous results demonstrating that antibody interaction with class I products includes recognition of C2/M-associated epitopes.     

Cross-reactive idiotypic determinants on antibodies and antigen-specific helper T cell continuous lines

Anti-idiotypic antibodies produced in C57BL/6 mice (H-2b, Igh-1b) against (T,G)-A--L-specific antibodies of C3H.SW mice (H-2b, Igh-1j) were used to probe (T,G)-A--L-specific helper T cell lines and clones for the expression of idiotypic determinants on the cell surface of the monoclonal functional T cells. By using the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS II), anti-idiotypic sera of individual mice that specifically bind C3H.SW anti-(T,G)-A--L antibodies were shown to stain significantly cells of the E-9M(+) continuous T helper line originated from C3H.SW (T,G)-A--L "educated" T cells. The same antisera did not react with a helper T cell line of C3H.SW origin specific to human gamma-globulin. They also did not stain a (T,G)-A--L-specific helper T cell line derived from CWB (H-2b, Igh-1b) mice, which differ from C3H.SW mice only in their heavy chain allotypes. Thus, the expression of the idiotypic determinants on the T cell lines appears to be antigen-specific and linked to the heavy chain allotypic marker as shown for the specific antibodies. Different clones derived from the E-9 M(+) line were tested their reactivity with the individual anti-idiotypic sera. All clones but one (1.11) were stained significantly. The clones were tested for their biologic activity and all of them except clone 1.11 were found to exert helper activity specific to (T,G)-A--L. Thus, individual anti-idiotypic sera against C3H.SW anti-(T,G)-A--L antibodies recognize cross-reactive idiotypic structures on the surface of antigen-specific monoclonal helper T cells.     

Specificity or affinity of cytotoxic T cells for self H-2K determinants apparently does not change between primary and secondary responses to ectromelia virus infection.

Lysis of virus-infected target cells by virus-specific cytotoxic T cells occurs where donors of T cells and targets share either H-2K or H-2D genes. The effect of four H-2K mutations on virus-induced antigens recognized by cytotoxic T cells from in vitro secondary response to infection was studied. B10.A(5R) cytotoxic T cells (which share the K end of H-2 with the mutant strains, except for the mutated gene(s)) efficiently killed virus-infected macrophage targets from mutant strains B6-H-2bg1 and B6-H-2bg2, were less effective against B6-H-2bh and did not appear to be cytotoxic for B6.C-H-2ba target cells. Conversely, B6-H-Ibg1 and B6-H-2bg2 cytotoxic T cells were more effective in killing virus-infected B10.A(5R) macrophages than B6-H-2bh and B6.C-H-2ba cytotoxic cells respectively. In addition, B6-H-2bg1 and B6-H-2bg2 cells appeared to be only slightly different from wild-type with respect to the interaction between virus-infected cells and T cells. The data obtained suggested that virus-induced antigenic patterns on infected B6.C-H-2ba (mutant) cells are more different antigenically from those on wild-type cells than are those on infected cells from the other mutants, B6-H-2bh, B6-H-2bg1 and B6-H-2bh2. This agrees with previous data using primary cytotoxic T cells and thus suggests that no detectable change in the affinity or specificity of cytotoxic T cell receptors occurs between primary and secondary responses to infection. These findings are also discussed in relation to the exclusion of T cells with receptors for H-2K determinants that are common to the mutants and wild-type, from the response to virus-infected self cells.     

Specificity of in vitro cytotoxic T cell clones directed against vesicular stomatitis virus

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) generated in mice against a particular serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) were previously shown to cross-reactively lyse syngeneic target cells infected with serologically distinct types of VSV. To analyze the antigenic basis of this T cell cross-reactivity, we generated CTL against VSV-Indiana (VSV-Ind) and established them by limiting dilution as cloned in vitro cell lines. The cells continuously proliferate in medium containing concanavalin A-induced T cell growth factors. All of the cells are Thy-1.2+ and Lyt-2.2+. Lysis by these cells is H-2Dd-restricted, no natural killer cell activity is detectable, and all the clones cross-reactively lyse target cells infected with either VSV-Ind or VSV-New Jersey (VSV-NJ). In addition, no specific blocking of primary, secondary, or cloned anti-VSV CTL was achieved with the use of several monoclonal antibodies specific for the glycoprotein of VSV and capable of neutralizing either VSV-Ind or VSV-NJ. These results suggest that VSV serotype-specific neutralizing antibodies may recognize immunodominant determinants of VSV glycoprotein that are distinct from those recognized by the majority of VSV-specific CTL.     

Immunogenicity of B chain in insulin responder and nonresponder mice.

The potential immunogenicity of insulin B chain in beef insulin low-responder H-2k,a and high-responder H-2b,d mice was examined using lymph node proliferation assays. Oxidized B chain was immunogenic in H-2k,a, but not H-2b,d, mice. The T cell population recognized a determinant in OX-B chain associated with I-Ak. These cells did not respond to intact insulin, suggesting that the B chain determinant was not available to I-Ak during immunologic processing of insulin. Responses were observed in H-2k and H-2d, but not H-2b, after immunization with reduced and carboxyamidomethylated-insulin which contains equimolar A chain and B chain. These responses were I-A-restricted and heterogeneous, with reactivity to A chain and B chain determinants. In each case, little or no cross-reactivity was observed between RCAM-insulin and intact insulin. Furthermore, T cell populations induced in H-2k mice selectively recognized OX-B chain or RCAM-B chain, which differ in chemical modification of the thiols of Cys B7 and Cys B19. Similarly, RCAM-BINS-immune T cells from H-2d did not react to OX-B chain. These results indicate that derivatization of the cysteine thiols, through disulfide bonds, oxidation, or carboxyamidomethylation, radically affects T cell recognition of insulin B chain.     

Specific neonatally induced tolerance to Mls locus determinants

Neonatal injection of CBA/HT6T6 (H-2k, Mlsb) mice with adult, Mls-incompatible (CBA/J [H-2k, Mlsd] X CBA/HT6T6)F1 spleen cells results in the abrogation of cell proliferation and interleukin 2 (IL 2) production in bulk mixed lymphocyte cultures, when spleen cells from the inoculated mice are tested at 6 to 8 wk of age with stimulator cells expressing the Mlsd of the tolerizing inoculum. In limiting dilution assays, this tolerant state was manifested in a 25- to 550-fold (280-fold average) decrease in the frequency of precursors of Mlsd-responsive IL 2-producing T cells. Tolerance was specific in that the frequencies of precursors of IL 2-producing cells responding to Con A, allogeneic H-2d, and self-Ia were not affected. The observed low frequency of Mls-responsive cells was due neither to extensive chimerism resulting in the dilution of Mlsd-responsive cells by the nonresponsive F1 cells of the inoculum, nor to the action of suppressor cells. These findings indicate that neonatal injection of Mls-incompatible spleen cells produces a state of specific tolerance by a clonal deletion or inactivation mechanism. This specific tolerance supports the view that 1) the Mls locus encodes or regulates the expression of defined alloantigenic determinants and 2) Mls-incompatible responder mice have specific receptors for Mls determinants on clonally distributed IL 2-producing responder T cells.     

Suppression of anti-hapten antibody responses by hapten-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes: role of I-A-associated antigen on target B lymphocytes

Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) determinants suppress the effector phase of a secondary anti-TNP antibody responses of murine syngeneic spleen cells in vitro. The cells mediating this suppression are hapten-specific, H-2-restricted, and possess properties typical of CTL. Moreover, the targets of the suppression appear to be antigen-primed B lymphocytes that are recognized by CTL via soluble antigen bound noncovalently to their Ig receptors. The effect of the CTL can be blocked by the addition of monoclonal antibodies directed against I-A molecules but not I-E or H-EK-encoded molecules on the target B cells, even in strain combinations in which the CTL-B cell interaction is restricted only by the H-2K and I regions of the MHC. This result suggests that B lymphocyte-bound antigen tends to associate preferentially with I-A rather than H-2K/D-encoded determinants, and that the suppressive effect of the CTL population is attributable to the minor subset that recognizes hapten-modified Ia antigens. These findings are also discussed in terms of the possible immunoregulatory function of Ia-restricted CTL.     

The products of transferred H-2 genes express determinants that restrict hapten-specific cytotoxic T cells

Cell lines into which cloned H-2 genes had been introduced (i.e., transformants) were used to correlate the genes and their products that are capable of functioning as H-2 restriction elements for hapten-self-(AED and TNP) specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL). These transformants provided a unique system in which major histocompatibility restricted (MHC) T cell recognition could be examined by using cells that express only H-2Ld or only H-2Dd gene products. BALB/c (H-2d) anti AED-self CTL lysed both the H-2Ld and Dd transformants, but not parental, i.e., untransformed, cells. The AED-self lysis of the Ld and Dd transformants was shown to be specifically inhibited by anti-H-2Ld and anti H-2Dd monoclonal antibody, respectively. In contrast to these results, BALB/c anti TNP-self CTL were found to lyse readily the Dd but not Ld transformed lines, supporting reports indicating that H-2Ld-restricted TNP-self CTL could not be detected. The results of this study thus demonstrate that the cell surface products encoded by these transferred MHC class I genes contain self determinants recognized by CTL.     

Identification of the immunodominant H-2K(k)-restricted cytotoxic T-cell epitope in the Borna disease virus nucleoprotein

Borna disease virus (BDV)-induced immunopathology in mice is most prominent in strains carrying the major histocompatibility complex H-2k allele and is mediated by CD8(+) T cells that are directed against the viral nucleoprotein p40. We now identified the highly conserved octamer peptide TELEISSI, located between amino acid residues 129 and 136 of BDV p40, as a potent H-2K(k)-restricted cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) epitope. When added to the culture medium of L929 target cells, TELEISSI conferred sensitivity to lysis by CTLs isolated from brains of BDV-infected MRL mice with acute neurological disease. Vaccinia virus-mediated expression of a p40 variant with mutations in the two K(k)-specific anchor residues of the TELEISSI peptide (p40(E130K,I136T)) did not sensitize L929 target cells for lysis by BDV-specific CTLs, whereas expression of wild-type p40 did. Furthermore, unlike vaccination with wild-type p40, vaccination of persistently infected symptomless B10.BR mice with p40(E130K,I136T) did not result in central nervous system inflammation and neurological disease. These results demonstrate that TELEISSI is the immunodominant CTL epitope of BDV p40 in H-2k mice.     

Herpes-Simplex-virus-specific, H-2Dk-restricted T lymphocytes bear receptors for H-2Dd alloantigen

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes generated in the course of an HSV-infection of CBA (H-2k) mice not only lyse syngeneic, virus-infected target cells but also cross-react with noninfected taraget cells expressing the Dd alloantigen. On the effector cell level, this alloreactivity is mediated by virus-specific CTL's that are restricted to H-2Dk determinants. On the prekiller cell level, the anti-HSV-reactive T cells exhibiting cross-reactivity for Dd alloantigen could be positively selected on H-2d spleen-cell monolayers. After differentiation into cytolytic effector cells, target cells expressing Dd alloantigens and syngeneic HSV-infected target were lysed with equal efficiency. The results imply that the phenomenon of H-2-restricted versus nonrestricted T-cell reactivity is not due to distinct T-cell subsets, but rather is dependent on the antigeneic determinants recognized.     

Oligosaccharide-dependent and independent Qa-1 determinants

A contribution of N-linked oligosaccharides to determinants recognized by alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes has not been demonstrated. Employing cloned CTL and tunicamycin, an inhibitor of protein glycosylation, we found that carbohydrate addition was required for the formation of two of six Qa-1 determinants. The other determinants were detectable on nonglycosylated Qa-1 molecules, similar to observations in most reports that allodeterminants on class I molecules are not dependent on glycosylation for serologic detection. Examination of TM-treated, Con A-activated lymphoblasts revealed a direct correlation between the determinants defined by the reactivity of CTL clones with target cells from four Qa-1 genotypes and their dependence on carbohydrate side chains for expression. Most anti-Qa-1b CTL clones recognized either a glycosylation-dependent determinant found only on Qa-1b cells or glycosylation-independent determinants on both Qa-1b and Qa-1c cells. Similarly, clones that killed only Qa-1a cells recognized a glycosylation-independent determinant. However, clones reactive with both Qa-1a and Qa-1d cells recognized a glycosylation-dependent determinant on Qa-1a molecules and a glycosylation-independent determinant on Qa-1d molecules. This result indicates that such clones recognize cross-reactive conformational determinants, not carbohydrate itself. Thus, N-linked oligosaccharides serve to stabilize the conformation of some Qa-1 determinants, but others remain intact on nonglycosylated molecules. The absence of similar data for H-2K/D/L molecules suggest that a reexamination of other class I antigens with cloned CTL is in order to determine whether Qa-1 molecules are unique.     

DM peptide-editing function leads to immunodominance in CD4 T cell responses in vivo

DM functions as a peptide editor for MHC class II-bound peptides. We examined the hypothesis that DM peptide editing plays a key role in focusing the in vivo CD4 T cell responses against complex pathogens and protein Ags to only one, or at most a few, immunodominant peptides. Most CD4 T cells elicited in the wild-type BALB/c (H-2d) mice infected with Leishmania major predominantly recognize a single epitope 158-173 within Leishmania homologue of activated receptor for c-kinase (LACK), as is the case when these mice are immunized with rLACK. Using DM-deficient (DM-/-) H-2d mice, we now show that in the absence of DM, the in vivo CD4 T cell responses to rLACK are skewed away from the immunodominant epitopes and are diversified to include two novel epitopes (LACK 33-48 and 261-276). DM-/- B10.BR (H-2k) mice showed similar results. These results constitute the first demonstration of the role of DM peptide editing in sculpting the specificity and immunodominance in in vivo CD4 T cell responses.