Presentation of autoantigen by human T cells

J Immunol. 1991 Aug 1;147(3):774-80.

Abstract

Activated human T cells express MHC class II and have been shown to present foreign Ag to autologous T cells. We now demonstrate that MHC class II+ T cell clones can present myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide autoantigen in the absence of traditional APC to autologous MBP reactive T cell clones. MBP peptide-pulsed T cell clones specifically stimulated autologous MBP-reactive T cell clones to flux calcium and proliferate. Activation responses were peptide epitope specific and blocked by mAb to MHC class II, indicating a TCR-mediated response. In addition, mAb to the adhesion molecules LFA-3, CD2, LFA-1, CD29, and to the tyrosine phosphatase CD45 also inhibited proliferation, indicating the involvement of T to T cell interactions. In contrast to peptide Ag, T cell clones did not respond to autologous T cells pulsed with HPLC-purified MBP, suggesting that T cells are unable to process whole MBP. However, batch-purified MBP Ag preparations containing lower m.w. breakdown products were presented by T cells, indicating that naturally occurring breakdown products of autoantigens could be presented by activated T cells in vivo. These results raise the possibility that T cell presentation of autoantigen at inflammatory sites may be important in regulation of immune responses to self Ag.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigens, CD / physiology
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / physiology
  • Antigens, Surface / physiology
  • Autoantigens / biosynthesis*
  • CD2 Antigens
  • CD58 Antigens
  • Epitopes
  • HLA-D Antigens / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens / physiology
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta1
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / physiology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myelin Basic Protein / immunology
  • Receptors, Immunologic / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Autoantigens
  • CD2 Antigens
  • CD58 Antigens
  • Epitopes
  • HLA-D Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Integrin beta1
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens