T Cell Repertoire: Genomic or Somatic Bias Toward Recognition of Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecules?

• Published in: Hereditas 1997-01, Vol.127 (1-2), p.125-132
• Main Authors: Vidović, Damir, Boulanger, Nathalie, Guenott, Jeanmarie, Nagy, Zoltan A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen Presentation; Clonal Deletion; Crosses, Genetic; Dimerization; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; Genes, MHC Class II; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - chemistry; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - genetics; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - immunology; Isoantigens - immunology; Major Histocompatibility Complex - genetics; Major Histocompatibility Complex - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Models, Genetic; Models, Immunological; Models, Molecular; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - genetics; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - genetics; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology
• ISSN: 0018-0661; 1601-5223
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1997.00125.x

The prevailing concept about a major influence of thymic positive selection on shaping the T cell repertoire during ontogeny is confronted with an old idea emphasizing a dominant role for genetic (evolutionary) factors in molding the recognition potential of mature T cells. Our recent results are not readily interpreted without introducing a new version of the old concept, according to which complementarity to the major histocompatibility complex peptide‐binding site is a major evolutionary selective pressure on T cell antigen receptor variable genes, with alloreactivity being a reflection of this fact.