Abstract
We have studied the TCR features and functional responses of three sets of human cytolytic T cell (CTL) clones, recognizing antigenic peptides presented by HLA-A2 and derived from the Epstein-Barr virus proteins BMLF1 and BRLF1 and from the melanoma protein Melan-A/MART-1. Within each set, a majority of clones used a recurrent V alpha region, even though they expressed highly diverse TCR beta chains and V(D)J junctional sequences. Functional assays and peptide/MHC multimer binding studies indicated that this restricted V alpha usage was not associated with the affinity/avidity of the CTL clones. The V alpha dominance, which may be a frequent feature of antigen-specific T cells, likely reflects a restricted geometry of TCR/peptide/MHC complexes, primarily determined by V alpha CDR.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Antigens, Neoplasm
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Complementarity Determining Regions
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HLA-A2 Antigen / immunology
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Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology*
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Humans
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Immediate-Early Proteins / immunology
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MART-1 Antigen
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Melanoma / immunology*
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Neoplasm Proteins / immunology
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Phosphoproteins / immunology
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / chemistry
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / physiology*
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
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Trans-Activators / immunology
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Viral Proteins*
Substances
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Antigens, Neoplasm
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BRLF1 protein, Human herpesvirus 4
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Complementarity Determining Regions
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HLA-A2 Antigen
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Immediate-Early Proteins
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MART-1 Antigen
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MLANA protein, human
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Phosphoproteins
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
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SM protein, Human herpesvirus 4
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Trans-Activators
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Viral Proteins