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Alloreactive T cells respond specifically to multiple distinct peptide-MHC complexes

Alloreactive T cells respond specifically to multiple distinct peptide-MHC complexes The molecular basis underlying the specificity of alloreactive T cells for peptide–major histocompatibility complex ligands has been elusive. Here we describe a screen of 60 I-Ek-alloreactive T cells and 83 naturally processed peptides that identified 9 reactive T cells. Three of the T cells responded to multiple, distinct peptides that shared no sequence homology. These T cells recognized each peptide–major histocompatibility complex ligand specifically and used a distinct constellation of I-Ek contact residues for each interaction. Our studies show that alloreactive T cells have a 'germline-encoded' capacity to recognize multiple, distinct ligands and thus show 'polyspecificity', not degeneracy. Our findings help to explain the high frequency of alloreactive T cells and provide insight into the nature of T cell specificity. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Immunology Springer Journals

Alloreactive T cells respond specifically to multiple distinct peptide-MHC complexes

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References (54)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by Nature Publishing Group
Subject
Biomedicine; Biomedicine, general; Immunology; Infectious Diseases
ISSN
1529-2908
eISSN
1529-2916
DOI
10.1038/ni1446
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The molecular basis underlying the specificity of alloreactive T cells for peptide–major histocompatibility complex ligands has been elusive. Here we describe a screen of 60 I-Ek-alloreactive T cells and 83 naturally processed peptides that identified 9 reactive T cells. Three of the T cells responded to multiple, distinct peptides that shared no sequence homology. These T cells recognized each peptide–major histocompatibility complex ligand specifically and used a distinct constellation of I-Ek contact residues for each interaction. Our studies show that alloreactive T cells have a 'germline-encoded' capacity to recognize multiple, distinct ligands and thus show 'polyspecificity', not degeneracy. Our findings help to explain the high frequency of alloreactive T cells and provide insight into the nature of T cell specificity.

Journal

Nature ImmunologySpringer Journals

Published: Feb 25, 2007

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