The Responses of Mature T Cells Are Not Necessarily Antagonized by Their Positively Selecting Peptide

Leszek Ignatowicz, John Kappler, David C. Parker, Philippa Marrack

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transgenic mice have been produced in which all detectable MHC class II proteins, IAb are bound to a single peptide. Hence, all of the CD4+ class II-restricted T cells in these animals are positively selected in the thymus by reaction with this single class II/peptide combination. It has been suggested that the peptide involved in positive selection of a particular T cell might antagonize the responses of that T cell to other peptides, a phenomenon that might serve to inhibit autoimmune reactions. To test this idea, we took advantage of the fact that T cells from the class II single-peptide mice react strongly in primary mixed lymphocyte cultures with IAb molecules from wild-type H-2b mice, i.e., loaded with a heterogeneous collection of self peptides. The responses of the T cells to other class II-bound peptides were not inhibited by high concentrations of the selecting peptide. Therefore, peptides involved in positive selection of T cells do not necessarily inhibit or antagonize the responses of mature T cells to Ag.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1827-1831
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume157
Issue number5
StatePublished - Sep 1 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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