T cell recognition of lysozyme. IV. Localization and genetic control of the continuous T cell recognition sites by synthetic overlapping peptides representing the entire protein chain

Location of the synaptosome-binding regions on botulinum neurotoxin B

The regions of botulinum neurotoxin B (BoNT/B) involved in binding to mouse brain synaptosomes (snps) were localized. Sixty 19-residue overlapping peptides (peptide C31 consisted of 24 residues) encompassing BoNT/B H chain (residues 442-1291) were synthesized and used to inhibit binding of (125)I-labeled BoNT/B to snps. Synaptosome-binding regions were noncompeting and existed on both H(N) and H(C) domains of neurotoxin. At 37 °C, inhibitory activities on H(N) resided, in decreasing order, in peptides 638-656 (26.7%), 596-614 (18.2%), 512-530 (13.9%), 778-796 (13.8%), and 526-544 (11.6%). On H(C), activity resided in decreasing order in peptides 1170-1188 (44.6%), 1128-1146 (21.6%), 1184-1202 (18.6%), 1156-1174 (13.0%), 946-964 (11.8%), 1114-1132 (11.2%), 1100-1118 (6.2%), 876-894 (6.1%), 1268-1291 (4.6%), and 1226-1244 (4.3%). The 45 remaining H(N) and H(C) peptides had no activity. At 4 °C, peptide C24 (1170-1188) remained quite active (inhibiting, 31.2%), while activities of peptides N15, C21, and C25 were little under 10%. The snp-binding regions contained sites that bind synaptotagmin II and gangliosides. Despite the low degree of sequence homology, BoNT/B and BoNT/A display significant structural homology and appeared to bind in part to the same snp-binding regions. Binding of each labeled toxin to snps was inhibited ~50% by the other toxin, 70-72% by its correlate H(C), and by the H(C) of the other toxin [29% (BoNT/A by H(C) of B) or 32% (BoNT/B by H(C) of A)]. In the three-dimensional structure of BoNT/B, the greater part of H(C), one H(N) face, and part of the belt on the same side interact with snps. Thus, BoNT/B binds to snps through the H(C) head and employs regions on one H(N) face and the belt, reserving flexibility for the belt's unbound part to release the light chain. Most snp-binding regions coincide or overlap with blocking antibody (Ab)-binding regions explaining how such Abs prevent BoNT/B toxicity.

Purified hematopoietic stem cell allografts reconstitute immunity superior to bone marrow

Antigen-specific immune responses are impaired after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The events contributing to this impairment include host hematolymphoid ablation and donor cell regeneration, which is altered by pharmacologic immune suppression to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A generally accepted concept is that graft T cell depletion performed to avoid GVHD yields poorer immune recovery because mature donor T cells are thought to be the major mediators of protective immunity early post-HCT. Our findings contradict the idea that removal of mature donor cells worsens immune recovery post-HCT. By transplantation of purified hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) compared with bone marrow (BM) across donor and recipient pairs of increasing genetic disparity, we show that grafts composed of the purified progenitor population give uniformly superior lymphoid reconstitution, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Subclinical GVHD by T cells in donor BM likely caused this lympho-depleting GVHD. We further determined in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched pairs, that T cell restricted proliferative responses were dictated by donor rather than host elements. We interpret these latter findings to show the importance of peripheral antigen presentation in the selection and maintenance of the T cell repertoire.

Pharmacological aspects and therapeutic applications of lysozymes

The therapeutic effectiveness of lysozyme (large scale manufactured hen egg-white lysozyme) is actually based on its ability to control the growth of susceptible bacteria and to modulate host immunity against infections and depressions of immune responses. If the former is based on the first evidence of the biological activity of this enzyme, the second is a relatively recent acquisition of extreme importance for the possibilities offered in terms of the regulation of the functioning of the host's immune system. Antibotic activity and immune stimulating effects are also used together, as in the case of the treatment of gastrointestinal infections, including those originated by therapeutical treatments. Based on these biological properties, in addition to the wide range of therapeutic activities for which lysozyme was exploited in the past, at present the most promising data concern the prevention of bacterial cariogenesis and treatment of cancer patients to improve the effectiveness of anticancer drugs or to allow the host to recover from the immune suppression caused by anticancer treatments. However, lysozyme does not yet hold a clear place as an immune modulating agent, in spite of the fact that it has been shown to stimulate immunity with no difference between experimental animals and human beings. The hope is therefore that doctors will understand its potential and that they will take advantage of the existence of this simple and useful molecule.

Antibody and T-cell recognition of alpha-bungarotoxin and its synthetic loop-peptides

Peptides representing the loops and surface regions of alpha-bungarotoxin (BgTX) and control peptide analogs in which these sequences were randomized were synthesized and used to map the recognition profiles of the antibodies and T-cells obtained after BgTX immunization. Also, the abilities of anti-peptide antibodies and T-cells to recognize the immunizing peptide and BgTX were determined. Three regions of BgTX were immunodominant by both rabbit and mouse anti-BgTX antibodies. These regions resided within loops L1 (residues 3-16), L2 (residues 26-41) and the C-terminal tail (residues 66-74) of the toxin. The regions recognized by BgTX-primed T-lymphocytes were mapped in five mouse strains: C57BL/6(H-2b), Balb/c (H-2d), CBA (H-2k), C3H/He (H-2k) and SJL (H-2s). The H-2b and H-2d haplotypes were high responders to BgTX, while the H-2k and H-2s were intermediate responders. The T-cell recognition profile of the peptides varied with the haplotype, consistent with Ir gene control of the responses to the individual regions. The submolecular specificities of antibodies and T-cells were compared in three of the mouse strains (C57BL/6, Balb/c and SJL). In a given mouse strain, there were regions that were strongly recognized by both antibodies and T-cells as well as regions that were predominantly recognized either by antibodies or by T-cells. The peptides were used as immunogens in their free form (i.e. without coupling to any carrier) in two of the mouse strains, Balb/c and SJL. In both mouse strains, the peptides gave strong antibody responses. Antibodies against peptide L2 showed the highest binding to intact BgTX. Antibodies against the other peptides exhibited lower binding activity to the intact toxin, and this activity was dependent on the peptide and the mouse strain. The response of peptide-primed T-cells to a given immunizing peptide was not related to whether this region was immunodominant with BgTX-primed T-cells. The ability of peptide-primed T-cells to recognize the intact toxin varied with the peptide and was dependent on the host strain. These results indicate that anti-peptide antibody and T-cell responses are also under genetic control and that their ability to cross-react with the parent toxin is not only dependent on the conformational exposure of the correlate region in intact BgTX.

Autoimmune T cell recognition of human acetylcholine receptor: the sites of T cell recognition in myasthenia gravis on the extracellular part of the alpha subunit

Autoimmune T cell lines were prepared from peripheral blood lymphocytes of five myasthenia gravis patients by passage in vitro with an equimolar mixture of 18 overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to the entire extracellular region (residues alpha 1-210) of the alpha subunit of human acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The proliferative responses of the human AChR-specific T cell lines to each of the individual peptides were determined. It was found that the profiles of the peptides recognized by the T cells were different among the five T cell lines, consistent with genetic control operating at the recognition site level. However, other regulatory influences may play important roles in the triggering of the autoimmune responses. These results suggest that the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease is variable at the cellular-molecular level.

T cells specific for alpha-beta interface regions of hemoglobin recognize the isolated subunit but not the tetramer and indicate presentation without processing

Processing of a protein antigen into fragments is believed to be a prerequisite for its presentation by the antigen-presenting cell to the T cell. This model would predict that, in oligomeric proteins, T cells prepared with specificity for regions that are buried within subunit association surfaces should recognize the respective regions in vitro equally well on the isolated subunit or on the oligomer. Three hemoglobin (Hb) alpha-chain synthetic peptides, corresponding to areas that are situated either completely [alpha-(31-45)] or partially [alpha-(41-45) and alpha-(81-95)] within the interface between the alpha and beta subunits of Hb, and a fourth peptide representing a completely exposed area in tetrameric Hb were used as immunogens in SJL/J (H-2s) mice. Peptide-primed T cells were passaged in vitro with the respective peptide to obtain peptide-specific T-lymphocyte lines. T-cell clones were isolated from these lines by limiting dilution. T-cell lines and clones that were specific for buried regions in the subunit association surfaces recognized the free peptide and the isolated subunit but not the Hb tetramer. On the other hand, T cells with specificity against regions that are not involved in subunit interaction and are completely exposed in the tetramer recognized the peptide, the isolated subunit, and the oligomeric protein equally well. The responses of the T-cell lines and clones were major histocompatibility complex-restricted. Since the same x-irradiated antigen-presenting cells were employed, the results could not be attributed to differences or defects in Hb processing. The findings indicate that in vitro the native (unprocessed and undissociated) oligomeric protein was the trigger of major histocompatibility complex-restricted T-cell responses.

Conformation-dependent recognition of a protein by T cells requires presentation without processing

Presentation of a protein antigen to T cells is believed to follow its intracellular breakdown by the antigen-presenting cell, with the fragments constituting the trigger of immune recognition. It should then be expected that T-cell recognition of protein antigens in vitro will be independent of protein conformation. Three T-cell lines were made by passage in vitro with native lysozyme of T cells from two mouse strains (B10.BR and DBA/1) that had been primed with the same protein. These cell lines responded well to native lysozyme and very poorly to unfolded (S-sulphopropyl) lysozyme. The response of the T-cell lines to the antigen was major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted. A line from B10.BR was selected for further studies. This line responded to the three surface-simulation synthetic sites of lysozyme (representing the discontinuous antigenic, i.e. antibody binding, sites) and analogues that were extended to a uniform size by a nonsense sequence. T-cell clones prepared from this line were specific to native lysozyme and did not respond to the unfolded derivative. Furthermore, several of these clones showed specificity to a given surface-simulation synthetic site. The exquisite dependency of the recognition by the clones on the conformation of the protein antigen and their ability to recognize the surface-simulation synthetic sites indicate that the native (unprocessed) protein was the trigger of MHC-restricted T-cell recognition.

An immunodominant site of acetylcholine receptor in experimental myasthenia mapped with T lymphocyte clones and synthetic peptides

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease of man caused by antibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). In the experimental model of MG in mice, murine experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), an anti-AChR immune response is induced by immunization with Torpedo AChR, and anti-AChR antibodies. AChR-sensitized T cells, and neuromuscular dysfunction result. The production of antibodies to AChR is thymus-dependent. In order to define the epitopes of the AChR identified by AChR-specific T cells, we generated T cell populations and T cell hybridoma clones and tested their reactivity to synthetic uniform-sized overlapping peptides representing the entire extracellular portion of the alpha-chain of the AChR. The predominant reactivity of the T cell clones and the parent lines was to a peptide corresponding to residues 146-162 of Torpedo AChR. This data is consistent with a highly limited recognition of AChR determinants in murine EAMG by AChR-specific T cells.

Cytotoxic and helper T-lymphocyte responses to antibody recognition regions on influenza virus hemagglutinin

We have previously localized and synthesized twelve antibody recognition sites on influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA). These peptides correspond to exposed surface areas in the 3-D structure of HA. Using intact X31 virus as the immunogen, we have determined the recognition of these synthetic peptides by proliferative T-helper lymphocytes (ThL), delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) responses. The responses to the individual determinants in each of these immune compartments were under separate Ir gene control. Conversely, using the peptides as immunogens, we have determined the ability of various peptide-specific antibodies (in outbred mice) and ThLs (in H-2k, H-2d, H-2s and H-2b mice) to recognize intact virus. Whereas most of the peptides primed the mice for an anti-peptide proliferative ThL response, only very few of these cross-reacted with the virus. The identity of the peptide(s) eliciting virus cross-reactive ThLs varied with the strain. The importance of antibody, ThL, CTL and DTH responses in protection against viral infection and in vaccine design is discussed.

Functional T cell recognition of synthetic peptides corresponding to continuous antibody epitopes of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein D

Four synthetic peptides which correspond to continuous antibody epitopes of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 glycoprotein D (gD) within amino acid residues 1-23 (8-23), 268-287 and 340-356 were evaluated for in vitro stimulating activity on HSV-primed murine T lymphocytes. All peptides stimulated lymphoproliferative responses and interleukin 2 (IL2) production from draining lymph node (LN) cell populations taken 5 days after footpad immunization with live HSV. Similar responses were elicited from splenic memory T cells only if these T cells were restimulated with HSV in vitro and rested prior to peptide stimulation. Furthermore, peptide stimulated memory T cell populations released soluble factor(s) into the culture supernates which modulated the induced lymphoproliferative and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activities of HSV-stimulated, HSV-immune splenocytes (indicator cultures). Memory T cell supernates suppressed lymphoproliferation of indicator cultures, while CTL activity of indicator cultures was either enhanced or suppressed, depending on the peptide and concentration. In contrast, supernates generated by peptide stimulation of draining LN cells had no effect on CTL activity of indicator cultures. However, the lymphoproliferative responses were augmented with three of the four peptides at the highest concentration of peptides tested. Our experiments indicate T helper (Th) and T suppressor (Ts) lymphocyte recognition of four synthetic peptides which encompass continuous antibody epitopes of HSV gD. Immunization with one of these peptides (1-23) induces virus neutralizing antibodies and protection against lethal viral challenge. Th lymphocyte recognition of this peptide in particular, together with its observed function in the induction of protection against HSV infection, indicates that this peptide is a promising candidate as a synthetic vaccine against HSV infection.

Recognition of inter-transmembrane regions of acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit by antibodies, T cells and neurotoxins. Implications for membrane-subunit organization

Three regions of the alpha chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR), corresponding to residues alpha 262-276, alpha 388, 408 and alpha 427-437 were synthesized, purified and characterized. The first two peptides have been proposed to occupy inter-transmembrane regions while the third represented the C-terminal segment, proposed by various models to be either extracellular or intracellular. Peptide alpha 388-408 stimulated a good response in the AChR-primed T cells of H-2s haplotype mice, a low response in the H-2q haplotype and no response in the H-2b haplotype. Peptide alpha 427-437 stimulated AChR-primed T cells of the H-2s haplotype, but caused no response in the q and b haplotypes. Peptide alpha 262-276 evoked no in vitro stimulation in any of the s, q or b haplotypes. In antibody binding studies, peptide alpha 388-408 bound antibodies raised against free AChR or against membrane-bound AChR. The other two peptides showed little or no binding activity. Further, peptide alpha 388-408 bound specifically both 125I-labelled bungarotoxin and cobratoxin, while the other two peptides had no binding activity. These results were consistent with only one of the models for subunit organization within the membrane.

T lymphocyte recognition of acetylcholine receptor: localization of the full T cell recognition profile on the extracellular part of the alpha chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor

A series of eighteen consecutive overlapping synthetic peptides, of uniform size and overlaps, which encompass the entire extracellular part (residues 1-210) of the Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor alpha chain were examined in vitro for their ability to stimulate lymph node cells from acetylcholine receptor-primed C57BL/6 (H-2b), C3H/He (H-2k), SWR (H-2q) and SJL (H-2s) mice. The recognition sites (T sites) by acetylcholine receptor-primed lymph node cells from these mouse strains resided within six regions on the extracellular part of the alpha chain. Three of the regions recognized by T cells coincided with regions recognized by antibodies (i.e. B cells) and one of these three regions also coincided with an alpha-neurotoxin-binding region. It is noteworthy that, in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells, the protein has at least two sites which are recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody responses are directed.

Non-specific peptide size effects in the recognition by site-specific T-cell clones. Demonstration with a T site of myoglobin

Six regions (T sites) of myoglobin (Mb) were found by a comprehensive synthetic strategy to stimulate Mb-primed lymph-node cells. To define precisely the N-terminal boundary of the immunodominant T site (residues 107-120) with site-specific T-cell clones and to determine the effects of peptide size on their stimulation, two sets of peptides were employed. In one set, the peptides were elongated to the left from His-113 by one-residue increments of the Mb sequence. The other set represented an identical stepwise elongation by one-residue increments of the Mb sequence, but which were extended by additional unrelated ('nonsense') residues to a uniform size of 14 residues. Examination of the proliferative responses of eight T-cell clones, derived from Mb-primed DBA/2 (H-2d) or SJL (H-2s) mice, revealed a dramatic non-specific size requirement. In every clone, the longer nonsense-extended peptides achieved maximum stimulating activity at a lower optimum peptide dose than its natural-sequence, but shorter, analogue. In addition, slight (one-residue) differences in the N-terminal boundaries among the clones was observed. Thus, the fine specificity of each clone was mapped to the region from residue 111 or 112 to about residue 120 of Mb, which coincides with the site of B-cell recognition and resides in a small discrete surface region of the protein chain.

Profile of the continuous antigenic regions on the extracellular part of the alpha chain of an acetylcholine receptor

Reaction of overlapping synthetic peptides spanning the extracellular part (residues 1-210) of the alpha chain of the Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (an alpha 2 beta gamma delta pentamer) with anti-receptor antibodies produced the profiles of the continuous antigenic regions of the correlate segment. Essentially similar profiles were recognized by rabbit and outbred mouse antibodies against isolated receptor or mouse antibodies against membrane-bound receptor. The antigenic sites reside within eight continuous regions: residues 1-14, 25-36, 41-53, 63-75, 102-114, 128-138, 172-182, and 188-198. Five of these regions (the second and the fifth through the eighth) appeared to be immunodominant. Significantly, two of these antigenic regions (i.e., those residing within residues 128-138 and 188-198) coincided with known toxin-binding regions. The antigenic profile suggests that recognition is directed to the intact molecule and only very slightly to the processed (fragmented) protein.

The regions of T-cell recognition on the extracellular part of the alpha chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor

A comprehensive synthetic approach was employed to identify the continuous regions of T-cell recognition on the alpha-chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Eighteen synthetic consecutive overlapping peptides, of uniform size and overlaps, that spanned the entire extracellular part (residues 1-210) of the alpha chain were examined for their in vitro stimulation of lymph node cells from AChR-primed C57BL/6 (H-2b), C3H/He (H-2k), SWR(H-2q) and SJL (H-2s) mice. The T-cell recognition sites (T sites) in the AChR-primed mouse strains resided within six regions on the extracellular part of the alpha-chain. Three of the regions recognized by T cells coincided with regions recognized by antibodies (i.e. B cells) and one of these three regions also coincided with an alpha-neurotoxin binding region. It is noteworthy that, in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells, the protein has at least two sites which are recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody responses are directed.

T-cell recognition and antigen presentation of lysozyme

Several years ago, this laboratory introduced a comprehensive strategy for the systematic localization of all the continuous sites on a protein that are involved in B- and T-cell recognition. The strategy depends on the synthesis of consecutive overlapping peptides that together account for the entire protein chain. Using this approach, the full submolecular profile of continuous regions on hen egg lysozyme recognized by T cells (T sites) were localized. Four major T-cell recognition sites, three of which were subject to individual genetic control, were localized in the six mouse strains examined. In addition to these four continuous T sites, T-cell recognition of lysozyme also involved the three previously defined discontinuous antibody binding sites as demonstrated with lysozyme-specific long-term T cell cultures. Contrary to a long held impression, T-cell recognition, therefore, is not restricted only to sequence features, but can also be directed to protein discontinuous surface areas of high conformational dependency. More recently, we have examined in two mouse strains the proliferative response to peptides and to native protein of lymph node cells from mice primed with synthetic overlapping peptides either individually or as a mixture. It was found that the pattern of T-cell recognition observed after priming with peptides differs from that obtained when the native protein is used as the immunogen. If antigen processing proceeds via fragmentation, then only those regions containing T sites would be expected to be effective in priming for a T-cell response to the intact protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

T-cell recognition and antigen presentation of myoglobin

Determination of the T-cell recognition profile of Mb by the overlapping peptide strategy revealed that the protein has six T sites. Five of these coincide with the antigenic sites while one site was recognized exclusively by T cells and not by any detectable levels of antibody. Recognition of the synthetic T sites by protein-primed T cell lines or clones indicated that T cells display an unusual peptide size requirement beyond the essential contact residues of the T site. The antigen presentation of Mb has been examined with the significant advantage of knowing the full profiles of T- and B-cell recognition of this multi-determinant antigen. Significant differences in the patterns of T-cell recognition were observed following protein-priming as compared to peptide-priming. The absence of a clear relationship between these patterns of recognition presents a strong evidence against a mechanism of antigen presentation which is dependent on the generation of peptide fragments with the latter being the 'presented' species. From this new perspective, the protein molecule must be predominantly presented in its intact form.

Site recognition by protein-primed T cells shows a non-specific peptide size requirement beyond the essential residues of the site. Demonstration by defining an immunodominant T site in myoglobin

In previous studies, six T sites within myoglobin (Mb) were localized. To define precisely the boundaries of the T sites, a new approach is introduced and applied here to the T site residing within residues 107-120 of Mb. Two sets of peptides were synthesized. One set represents a stepwise elongation by one-residue increments of the Mb sequence. The other set represents an identical stepwise addition of one-residue increments of the Mb sequence, but which were extended by additional unrelated (nonsense) residues to a uniform size of 14 residues. The longer peptides (nonsense-extended) usually gave higher proliferative responses than did their shorter counterparts having the same Mb region. Thus a minimum peptide size is required for optimal T-cell stimulation. The T site subtends, in three high-responder mouse strains, residues 109-119 or 110-120, depending on strain, and, in three low-responder strains, maps to residues 108-120. Thus, in this case, the T site coincides with the site of B-cell recognition and resides in a small discrete surface region of the protein chain.

T-cell recognition of human haemoglobin. Localization of the full T-cell recognition profile of the beta-chain by a comprehensive synthetic strategy

This paper reports the localization of the regions on the beta-chain that are recognized by T cells from mice immunized with haemoglobin. The 14 overlapping peptides encompassing the entire beta-chain were examined in vitro for their ability to stimulate lymph-node cells from haemoglobin-primed B10.D2 (H-2d) and SJL (H-2s) mice. Several regions of the molecule (T sites) were found to stimulate haemoglobin-primed lymph-node cells. This strategy has enabled the localization of the full profile of T-cell recognition of the beta-chain by these mouse strains. Some of the regions that stimulated T cells appeared to coincide with those recognized by antibodies (i.e. B cells). It is noteworthy that, in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells, the protein has other sites that are recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody response is directed.

Antibody recognition of ragweed allergen Ra3: localization of the full profile of the continuous antigenic sites by synthetic overlapping peptides representing the entire protein chain

A comprehensive synthetic approach, for the localization of the full profile of the continuous antigenic sites on proteins, previously introduced by this laboratory, was applied here to localize the continuous antigenic sites of ragweed allergen, Ra3. The following 10 consecutive peptides, each comprising 15 residues (except for peptide 91-101) and overlapping each of its neighbors by 5 residues, were synthesized and purified: 1-15, 11-25, 21-35, 31-45, 41-55, 51-65, 61-75, 71-85, 81-95 and 91-101. Quantitative radiometric titrations of protein and peptide adsorbents were performed with 125I-labeled anti-Ra3 IgG antibodies from rabbit, outbred mouse and human antisera. The specificity of antibody binding to peptide adsorbents was confirmed by inhibition experiments. These studies established the full profile of antigenic (IgG-binding) sites of Ra3 and permitted comparison with the allergenic (IgE-binding) sites recently localized. It was found that the recognition by IgG antibodies was independent of the host species in which the antibodies were raised. Furthermore, the regions recognized by human IgE antibodies coincided with those recognized by IgG antibodies in three different species. Thus, Ra3 was found to have 4 continuous antigenic sites which occupy the same locations as the allergenic sites.

Antigenic structure of human haemoglobin. Localization of the antigenic sites of the beta-chain in three host species by synthetic overlapping peptides representing the entire chain

A comprehensive synthetic approach is applied here to localize the continuous antigenic sites of the beta-chain of haemoglobin. The approach was based on the synthesis and purification of the following consecutive 15-residue peptides (each overlapping by five residues at both ends with the peptides preceding it and following it in the sequence): 1-15, 11-25 etc. Quantitative radiometric titrations of protein and peptide adsorbents were performed with 125I-labelled anti-haemoglobin antibodies from three different host species. The specificity of antibody binding to peptide adsorbents was confirmed by inhibition studies and by the binding specificity of antibodies isolated from peptide adsorbents. These studies established the full profile of antigenic beta-chain regions, which was found to be independent of the host species. Five major antigenic sites were localized, and their three-dimensional and structural characteristics are discussed in relation to the immune recognition of haemoglobin and other proteins.

T cell recognition of ragweed allergen Ra3: localization of the full T cell recognition profile by synthetic overlapping peptides representing the entire protein chain

In the preceding report, we described the systematic localization of the full profile of the continuous antigenic sites on ragweed allergen, Ra3, with antibodies from three different host species using a comprehensive strategy, previously introduced by this laboratory. The strategy consists of studying the immunochemical activity of a series of consecutive synthetic overlapping peptides, of uniform size and overlaps, which encompass the entire protein chain. This study reports the localization of the continuous regions on Ra3 that are recognized by T cells from mice immunized with Ra3. The 10 overlapping peptides encompassing the entire Ra3 molecule were examined in vitro for their ability to stimulate lymph node cells from Ra3-primed BALB/c (H-2d), C3H/He (H-2k) SWR (H-2q) and SJL (H-2s) mice. Several regions of the molecule (T sites) were found to stimulate Ra3-primed lymph node cells. This strategy has enabled the localization of the full submolecular profile of T cell recognition of the Ra3 molecule by these mouse strains. Three of the regions recognized by T cells coincided with regions recognized by antibodies (i.e. B cells). It is noteworthy that in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells the protein has at least one site which is recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody response is directed.

Antigen presentation of myoglobin: profiles of T cell proliferative responses following priming with synthetic overlapping peptides encompassing the entire molecule

Recently, the regions of myoglobin, which are recognized by T cells (T sites), were localized by a comprehensive synthetic strategy in which uniform synthetic overlapping peptides encompassing the entire protein chain were examined for stimulation of T cell proliferative activity. In this study, we report about the proliferative response to these peptides, as well as to the native protein, of lymph node cells from mice primed with the overlapping peptides either individually or in a mixture. Some, but not all, of the T site-containing peptides were effective in priming for an anti-myoglobin T cell response. Further, several peptides, which were highly immunogenic as free synthetic peptides, were not associated with any of the known T sites in this protein. Thus, the pattern of T cell recognition following priming with the overlapping peptides differs from the pattern observed when the native protein is the priming antigen. If antigen processing proceeds via fragmentation, then only those regions containing T sites would be expected to be effective in priming for a T cell response to the intact protein and, conversely, highly immunogenic peptides would correspond to T sites of the protein. Therefore, these findings indicate that the current concept of antigen fragmentation as a prerequisite for its presentation must be reappraised. We suggest that, in the presentation of a protein antigen, the protein is recognized predominantly intact and that the crucial aspects of presentation are determined by interaction with the cell membrane which trigger cellular activating events.

Localization of the continuous allergenic sites of ragweed allergen Ra3 by a comprehensive synthetic strategy

A comprehensive synthetic approach, previously introduced by this laboratory for the localization of the full profile of the continuous antigenic sites on proteins, was applied here to localize the continuous sites of ragweed allergen, Ra3, that are recognized by human anti-Ra3 IgE antibodies. The following 10 uniform and overlapping peptides were synthesized and purified: 1-15, 11-25, 21-35, 31-45, 41-55, 51-65, 61-75, 71-85, 81-95 and 91-101. Quantitative radiometric titrations of protein and peptide adsorbents with human IgE, established the full profile of allergenic (IgE binding) sites on Ra3. It was found that Ra3 has four continuous allergenic sites. Antibodies prepared against the IgE binding peptides bound to native Ra3. The findings are briefly discussed in relation to other protein antigenic structures and in terms of design of vaccines using synthetic sites.

T cell recognition of myoglobin. Localization of the sites stimulating T cell proliferative responses by synthetic overlapping peptides encompassing the entire molecule

A comprehensive strategy for the systematic localization of all continuous antigenic sites within a protein has previously been introduced by this laboratory. The strategy consists of studying the immunochemical activity of a series of consecutive synthetic peptides that encompass the entire protein chain and that are uniform in size and in overlap at their N- and C-terminals with neighbouring peptides. By application of this strategy to sperm whale myoglobin, we have been able to delineate the continuous sites of T cell recognition of myoglobin in three high responder mouse strains. Thirteen 17-residue peptides that encompass the entire myoglobin chain and overlap by five residues at both ends were synthesized, purified and characterized. The peptides were examined in vitro for their ability to stimulate lymph node cells from myoglobin-primed DBA/2 (H-2d), BALB/c (H-2d) and SJL (H-2s) mice as well as long-term cultures of myoglobin-specific T cells. Several regions of the molecule (T sites) were found to stimulate myoglobin-primed lymph node cells and myoglobin-specific longterm T cell cultures. This strategy has enabled the localization of the full profile of dominant sites of T cell recognition in myoglobin for these mouse strains. Of these T sites, one region, residues 107-125, was clearly immunodominant in these strains and was found to coincide with the antigenic (i.e. antibody binding) site 4 of myoglobin. Also, other regions stimulated T cells and appeared to coincide with previously known antigenic sites. It is noteworthy that, in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells, the protein has other sites which are recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody response is directed.