Specificity and heterogeneity of helper T cells in the response to serum albumins in mice

Aberrant B cell development and immune response in mice with a compromised BCR complex

The immunoglobulin alpha (Ig-alpha)-Ig-beta heterodimer is the signaling component of the antigen receptor complex on B cells (BCR) and B cell progenitors (pre-BCR). A mouse mutant that lacks most of the Ig-alpha cytoplasmic tail exhibits only a small impairment in early B cell development but a severe block in the generation of the peripheral B cell pool, revealing a checkpoint in B cell maturation that ensures the expression of a functional BCR on mature B cells. B cells that do develop demonstrate a differential dependence on Ig-alpha signaling in antibody responses such that a signaling-competent Ig-alpha appears to be critical for the response to T-independent, but not T-dependent, antigens.

The immune response of BALB/c mice to influenza hemagglutinin: commonality of the B cell and T cell repertoires and their relevance to antigenic drift

An extensive analysis of the class II (I-Ad)-restricted T cell repertoire for influenza hemagglutinin (HA) of the H3 subtype, elicited by natural infection, has shown that majority of CD4+ memory T cell clones focus on antibody-binding regions of HA, sites B and E, and are sensitive to the residue substitutions that have occurred in these regions during antigenic drift. The proliferative responses of CD4+ clones to synthetic peptides have identified T cell epitopes within site B, HA1 177-199 and HA1 182-199, and site E. HA1 56-76. The recognition specificity of T cell clones for antibody-selected mutant viruses, with single amino acid substitutions within these recognition sites identified residues 63, 189, 193 and 198 as being important for T cell recognition and thus established that BALB/c, CD4+ T cell clones were sensitive to the same substitutions known to abrogate BALB/c antibody recognition of the native HA. Our findings indicate extensive commonality of the B cell and T cell repertoires for HA, which may be relevant to an understanding of the immune pressures for antigenic drift, and, moreover, suggest that the antigen-specific B memory cell may be instrumental in selection of the peripheral T cell repertoire.

Fine specificity of antibodies to the synthetic polypeptide poly(L-tyrosine, L-glutamic acid)-poly(DL-alanine)--poly(L-lysine) and its ordered analogs as followed by solid-phase radioimmunoassay

The fine specificity of antibodies against (T,G)-A--L and its ordered analogs (T-T-G-G)-A--L and (T-G-T-G)-A--L was studied. Fifty percent of the antibodies against (T,G)-A--L are directed toward the T-T-G-G determinants and 19% against T-G-T-G-like determinants. The rest of the antibody response to (T,G)-A--L is directed against determinants which exist in (T,G)-A--L but are not cross-reactive with either T-T-G-G- or T-G-T-G-like determinants. Although (T-T-G-G)-A--L and (T-G-T-G)-A--L differ only in the sequence of tyrosine and glutamic acid in their side chains, no crossreactivity was observed between antibodies toward the two ordered polypeptide antigens.

Recognition of antigens by T lymphocytes

The present review briefly summarizes our knowledge of antigen-specific B and T lymphocyte receptors. Antigen-specific receptors on mammalian B lymphocytes are mainly monomeric IgM and IgD consisting of conventional immunoglobulin heavy and light chains. The nature of the T lymphocyte receptor which can specifically recognize antigens is not yet fully defined. However, it seems that conventional light chains do not participate in the build up of this receptor, and that the receptor is made up of heavy chains of a new immunoglobulin class which has to be further characterized and which we call Tau-chain. The variable region of the T lymphocyte receptors share idiotypic determinants with the corresponding B lymphocyte receptors. The possible linkage between the T cell idiotypes present on the Tau-chains and molecules which are under the control of genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex of the species are discussed. In the last part of the review two methods for the induction of specific transplantation tolerance in adult animals are described. These methods are based on the concept that T lymphocytes reactive against alloantigens bear idiotypic determinants against which a specific auto-immune response can be initiated.

Structural aspects of immune recognition of lysozymes. III. T cell specificity restriction and its consequences for antibody specificity

We have studied the relationship between the determinants encountered by T cells on an antigenic molecule and the specificities of the antibodies eventually produced by the B cells with which these T cells cooperate. The number of epitopes on the hen lysozyme (HEL) molecule available to T cell receptors was functionally limited by inducing T cell tolerance to HEL in rabbits. Highly cross-reactive lysozymes were then used to challenge the HEL-unresponsive rabbits. Only T cells which recognize new epitopes on the challenge lysozymes could act as helpers in generating an anti-lysozyme response. Amino acid differences between Japanese quail lysozyme (JEL) and HEL are segregated within a single quadrant of this small antigen molecule. HEL-tolerant rabbits challenged with JEL produced antibodies which were totally cross-reactive with the tolerogen HEL. This result is in contrast to the result obtained in nontolerant rabbits which produced antibodies to JEL which were only 50-70% cross-reactive with HEL. We conclude that T cells restricted to the JEL-unique epitopes were only capable of cooperating with B cells specific for common epitopes shared between JEL and the tolerogen HEL. Turkey lysozyme (TEL), on the other hand, bears different amino acids which are distributed over several regions on the surface of the molecule. Any one HEL-tolerant rabbit developed a restricted response to TEL; in some rabbits the anti-TEL was highly HEL cross-reactive, while in others little cross-reactivity with HEL was observed. Each of four HEL-tolerant rabbits injected with the minimally altered bob-white quail lysozyme possessed the reactive T cells necessary to mount a limited response to this challenge lysozyme, suggesting a diverse library of T cell specificities. Recognition of the small differences between the challenge lysozymes and the T cells of these tolerant rabbits to make a fine discrimination between minimally changed epitopes.

Shared idiotypic determinants on B and T lymphocytes reactive against the same antigenic determinants. V. Biochemical and serological characteristics of naturally occurring, soluble antigen-binding T-lymphocyte-derived molecules

Normal rat lymphocyte populations house a high percentage of lymphocytes with idiotypic, antigen-binding receptors for the major histocompatibility complex antigens of the rat. These receptors can be isolated from normal serum or lymphocyte supernatants. Idiotypic, antigen-binding molecules released from normal Lewis lymphocytes were thus isolated using anti-(Lewis anti-DA) immuno adsorbents. Analysis by SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis using molecules labeled by external or internal means (125I or 3H) demonstrated that B lymphocytes produce molecules of 'conventional' 7S-8S IgM type. T-lymphocyte-derived molecules had a molecular weight of around 150,000 and consisted of two chains of similar size. Such single chains would succumb to proteolysis by normal serum factors to yield fragments in the size range of 30,000-40,000 daltons. All three groups of T-cell-derived molecules expressed both antigen-binding and idiotypic markers. No evidence was obtained that any light chains are linked to the T-receptor molecules. Serological analysis of the T-cell molecules failed to prove the existence of any determinants of constant immunoglobulin type, nor did these molecules express antigenic markers of major histocompatibility complex types.

Idiotypic analysis of lymphocytes in vitro. I. Specificity and heterogeneity of B and T lymphocytes reactive with anti-idiotypic antibody

Guinea pig anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id) of the IgG1 class, directed to an A/J antibody to Group A streptococcal carbohydrate (A-CHO), or directed to a BALB/c myeloma protein that binds the same antigen, stimulate B-precursor cells as well as T-helper cells when injected into mice of the appropriate strain. The strain-specific induction of both precursor and helper activity was detected by in vitro secondary responses of primed spleen cells to A-CHO or to 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) upon challenge with Group A streptococcal vaccine (Strep.A) or with TNP-Strep.A, respectively. B- and T-cell populations primed with anti-Id were uniform with respect to the binding of antigen and of anti-Id. This was in contrast to cells primed with Strep.A, which were heterogenous. Taken together, B and T cells that possess the same antigen-binding specificity share idiotypic determinants, reveal the same idiotypic polymorphism, and may display similar degrees of heterogeneity with respect to the binding of antigen and anti-Id. Since the anti-Id used in this study detect Id determinants associated with the heavy chain of the variable region of mouse antibodies, the data suggest that this region of the immunoglobulin molecule is shared between T- and B-cell antigen receptors.

Induction of T and B cell immunity by anti-idiotypic antibody

A small dose of the IgG1 fraction of anti-idiotypic antibody (aId1) raised in guinea pigs against a strain A/J antibody specific for streptococcal Group A carbohydrate sensitizes A/J mice against Group A streptococci. This is opposed to the previously established suppressive function of anti-idiotypic antibody of the IgG2 class (aId2). Correspondingly, aId1 but not aId2 is eliminated from the circulation in the way typical of an immunogenic molecule. However, the stimulatory component in the IgG1 fraction is not necessarily itself IgG1 antibody. Sensitization occurs in both B and helper T lymphocytes and is specific for Group A streptococci. In the B cell compartment sensitization is restricted to precursor cells expressing the idiotype. The concomitant activation of T helper cells therefore suggests that these cells make use of receptors with a similar or identical idiotype. Efficient sensitization by aId1 of both T and B cells is also demonstrated in strain C57L/J mice which upon immunization with Group A streptococci express a partially cross-reacting idiotype as a minor component. When such animals were primed with aId1, essentially all of the anti-carbohydrate antibody carried the partially cross-reacting idiotype.

Idiotype suppression. II. Amplification of a suppressor T cell with anti-idiotypic activity

Guinea pig IgG2 anti-idiotypic antibody (aId2) against the strain A/J antibody A5A has a suppressive effect on the expression of the A5A idiotype in adult A/J mice immunized with Group A streptococci. High doses of aId2 cause an immediate but transient suppression, whereas low doses of aId2 result in a delayed but chronic suppression which lasted for more than 1 year without any indication of recovery. Chronic suppression is transferred by as few as 10(5) spleen cells, but an interval of 6 weeks after transfer is required for completion of suppression. The suppressive capacity of aId2-induced suppressor cells was virtually inexhaustable in 4 consecutive transfers spaced at 3 month intervals. The suppressor cell is a T cell which adheres to histamine-rabbit serum albumin-Sepharose 2B columns.

Fine specificity of the H-2 linked immune response gene for the gallinaceous lysozymes

An immune response (Ir) gene is described which controls the ability of mice to respond to seven very closely related gallinaceous egg white lysozymes (GEL). This Ir-GEL gene locus is linked to the major histocompatibility locus of the mouse and operates at the level of the T cell. Responsiveness to the nonimmunogenic prototype hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) is dominant and is unrelated to age or sex of the animals, or to dose of protein administered. Ninety percent of C57BL/6 mice are absolute nonresponders to the nonimmunogenic lysozymes in complete Freund's adjuvant. The remaining mice exhibit severely restricted responses, with different anti-HEL clonotypes appearing in individual mice. The fine specificity of the Ir-GEL locus is evident in the discrimination of as few as two amino acid differences in a single region of the lysozyme molecule. This very precise distinction determines whether there will, or will not, be any response to the multideterminant molecule.