Isolation of antigen-specific T cell clones from nonresponder mice

✍ Scribed by Sara Abromson-Leeman; Joseph Laning; Harvey Cantor; Martin E. Dorf

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 798 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830180122

✦ Synopsis

Isolation of antigen-specific T cell clones from nonresponder mice*

The mechanisms responsible for major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked unresponsiveness are still poorly understood. Here we examine the cellular events that follow when BIO.A mice are immunized with cow insulin, an antigen to which they make no apparent immunologic response. Despite the fact that there is no detectable antibody or T cell proliferative response to cow insulin, we have been able to clone out responding T cells after priming and restimulating in vitro with this "nonimmunogenic" antigen. These cells are L3T4+, and co-recognize specific antigen and class I1 MHC gene products. The data demonstrate that "nonresponder" mice to cow insulin have both the capacity to present antigen and T cells capable of recognizing that antigen. The diversity within this population was investigated by analyzing various parameters of cellular activation. These include fine specificity of both antigen and MHC recognition, as well as recognition of allogeneic MHC and Mls determinants. In addition, the antigen-presenting cell requirements were studied. The results demonstrate that this population comprise a surprisingly heterogeneous group in terms of its repertoire of receptors.