Abe R, Vacchio M S, Fox B, Hodes R J
Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Nature. 1988 Oct 27;335(6193):827-30. doi: 10.1038/335827a0.
The precursor frequency of T cells specific for any given foreign antigen is, in general, extremely low. Prominent exceptions to this rule are the T cells that are specific for foreign major histocompatibility complex (MHC) products or for products of the minor lymphocyte stimulatory (Mls) genes in the mouse which are present at high frequencies. Here, we report a striking overlap or cross-reactivity between the T cells specific for the protein antigen pigeon cytochrome c in association with Ek alpha Ek beta and the set of T cells specific for Mlsc products. In addition, we demonstrate that the basis for this overlap is the predominant expression of one T-cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene, V beta 3, by T cells that recognize Mlsc products. These results indicate the importance of specific TCR alpha beta dimers in the recognition of Mlsc products and that positive or negative selection of T cells specific for Mls self-determinants may selectively alter the repertoire of T cells available for MHC-restricted recognition of foreign antigens.
一般来说，针对任何特定外来抗原的T细胞前体频率极低。该规则的显著例外是那些针对外来主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）产物或小鼠中次要淋巴细胞刺激（Mls）基因产物的T细胞，它们以高频率存在。在此，我们报道了与EkαEkβ相关的针对蛋白质抗原鸽细胞色素c的T细胞与针对Mlsc产物的T细胞组之间存在显著的重叠或交叉反应性。此外，我们证明这种重叠的基础是识别Mlsc产物的T细胞主要表达一种T细胞受体（TCR）Vβ基因，即Vβ3。这些结果表明特定的TCRαβ二聚体在识别Mlsc产物中的重要性，并且针对Mls自身决定簇的T细胞的阳性或阴性选择可能会选择性地改变可用于MHC限制的外来抗原识别的T细胞库。
