The Minimal Number of Class II MHC-Antigen Complexes Needed for T Cell Activation

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are exposed to large quantities of self and nonself antigens. It is not known what fraction of MHC molecules needs to be occupied by antigen to induce a T cell response. A quantitative study of naturally processed antigen indicated that T cells could...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1990-08, Vol.249 (4972), p.1028-1030
Main Authors: Demotz, Stephane, Grey, Howard M., Sette, Alessandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigen-antibody reactions, antigen-antibody complexes, antibody-complement and others. Study of affinity. Antigen presentation
Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology
Antigens
B cell lymphoma
B lymphocytes
B-Lymphocytes - immunology
Biological and medical sciences
Blasts
Cell Line
Cell lines
Cellular biology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Genes, MHC Class II
Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - immunology
Kinetics
L cells
Lymphocyte Activation
Lymphoma
Macrophages
Macrophages - immunology
Major histocompatibility complex
Molecular immunology
Molecules
Muramidase - immunology
Physiological aspects
T cells
T lymphocytes
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
Transfection
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Summary:Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are exposed to large quantities of self and nonself antigens. It is not known what fraction of MHC molecules needs to be occupied by antigen to induce a T cell response. A quantitative study of naturally processed antigen indicated that T cells could be activated when only 0.03 percent of the total I-E$^d$ purified from antigen-presenting cells (APCs) was occupied with antigen. B cells and macrophages processed hen egg lysozyme (HEL) with different efficiencies, but similar degrees of occupancy were required for T cell stimulation. Higher occupancy was needed for I-E$^d$-transfected L cells, possibly reflecting the requirement for other accessory molecules for efficient APC-T cell interaction.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.2118680