Monoclonal T cell responses to two epitopes on a single immunogen controlled by two distinct genes

The fine specificities of immune T cells were studied in a system in which the response to the antigen can involve two immune response (Ir) genes and two epitopes on a single synthetic polypeptide immunogen. The (BALB/c X SJL)F1 (H-2d X H-2s) mice can respond to the random terpolymer poly(Glu55, Lys36, Phe9) (GLPhe) through the H-2d-linked Ir gene (Ir-d) or through the complementing Ir gene (Ir-dxs), which controls the immune response to poly(Glu, Phe), epitopes that are present in GLPhe. Nine groups of monoclonal T cells were obtained from (H-2d X H-2s)F1 mice immunized with GLPhe. These groups were delineated by the differences in major histocompatibility (MHC) restriction on antigen-presenting cells (APC) and the cross-reactions with GPhe or GLT. A unique T cell line was discovered that can react to the three polymers (GLPhe, GLT, GPhe) even though GLT and GPhe immune T cells do not normally show reciprocal cross-reactions. The monoclonal T cells retain helper activities in the Mishell-Dutton culture. Although the activation of T cells is antigen specific and MHC restricted, the subsequent B cell response is nonspecific.