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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners
Published on: June 30, 2013
Influenza peptide-induced self-lysis and down-regulation of cloned cytotoxic T cells
R M Pemberton1, D C Wraith, B A Askonas
1National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London.
Virus-specific cytotoxic T-cell (Tc) clones can lyse target cells in vitro in the presence of their specific peptide epitopes. The lytic potency of murine influenza nucleoprotein (NP)-specific Tc clones was investigated after observing that target cell killing was reduced in the presence of high (greater than 0.2 microM) concentrations of specific NP peptide antigen. Following incubation of Tc for 16 hr in the presence of a range of peptide concentrations, two effects were observed; (i) a peptide dose-dependent mortality of Tc, which has been attributed to self-lysis by clonal Tc in the presence of specific peptide; (ii) and a reduced ability to specifically lyse NP-expressing target cells whilst retaining lectin-dependent lytic activity in the surviving Tc. This functional down-regulation was reversible after 24 hr incubation in the absence of peptide. Toxic effects were excluded, since inhibition of specific target lysis by Tc was mediated only be pretreatment with specifically recognized peptide.
Virus-specific cytotoxic T-cell (Tc) clones can lyse target cells in vitro in the presence of their specific peptide epitopes. The lytic potency of murine influenza nucleoprotein (NP)-specific Tc clones was investigated after observing that target cell killing was reduced in the presence of high (greater than 0.2 microM) concentrations of specific NP peptide antigen. Following incubation of Tc for 16 hr in the presence of a range of peptide concentrations, two effects were observed; (i) a peptide dose-dependent mortality of Tc, which has been attributed to self-lysis by clonal Tc in the presence of specific peptide; (ii) and a reduced ability to specifically lyse NP-expressing target cells whilst retaining lectin-dependent lytic activity in the surviving Tc. This functional down-regulation was reversible after 24 hr incubation in the absence of peptide. Toxic effects were excluded, since inhibition of specific target lysis by Tc was mediated only be pretreatment with specifically recognized peptide.
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