T cells potentially encounter numerous endogenous peptides during selection in the thymus and in the periphery. We examined the impact of an endogenous peptide on in vivo T cell development, using a TCR transgenic mouse model based on a hemoglobin-specific T cell clone. In these mice, the transgenic beta chains paired with endogenous alpha chains. This led to a serendipitous primary reactivity to Ser69 peptide, an altered peptide ligand of the Hbd (64-76) epitope of the parent clone. Two Ser69-reactive T cell populations were identified. A smaller population of the Ser69-reactive T cells responded both to Ser69 and Hbd (64-76). A majority reacted only to Ser69, and not to Hbd(64-76); in fact, Hbd(64-76) was a specific TCR antagonist for these Ser69-only-reactive T cells. Thus, in this unique experimental system, Ser69 became an agonist, and Hbd (64-76) was an antagonist. Endogenous presentation of the antagonist ligand in the thymus selectively eliminated the high-avidity cells, while sparing low-avidity cells in the Ser69-reactive T cell repertoire. These results highlight how specificity guides developing T cells through a network of ligands and indicate that the endogenous peptide pool has a profound effect on T cell development and repertoire.
Article|
February 01 1995
Modulation of T cell development by an endogenous altered peptide ligand.
B L Hsu,
B L Hsu
Center for Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
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B D Evavold,
B D Evavold
Center for Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
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P M Allen
P M Allen
Center for Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
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B L Hsu
Center for Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
B D Evavold
Center for Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
P M Allen
Center for Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1995) 181 (2): 805–810.
Citation
B L Hsu, B D Evavold, P M Allen; Modulation of T cell development by an endogenous altered peptide ligand.. J Exp Med 1 February 1995; 181 (2): 805–810. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.181.2.805
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