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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Visualizing Antigen Specific CD4+ T Cells using MHC Class II Tetramers
Published on: March 6, 2009
Antigen-specific helper factor reacts with antibody to the T-cell receptor
J P Deans1, J F Krowka, T Mosmann
1Department of Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Abstract:
Antigen-specific helper factor (ASHF), a soluble product of T helper (Th) cells, binds antigen and can induce B-cell and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) differentiation. Its relationship to the T-cell surface antigen receptor (TcR) is unknown. Both have MHC-restricted recognition of nominal antigen, thus they may share very similar combining sites. Using monoclonal anti-TcR to immunoprecipitate partially purified ASHF, we have obtained evidence for shared determinants between ASHF and the TcR. Antigen affinity-enriched supernatants of a Th clone, LB19, are functionally active in antigen-specific, help-dependent CTL assays. FPLC anion exchange salt fractions of these supernatants were 125I-labelled and immunoprecipitated with KJ16.133 monoclonal anti-TcR coupled to Sepharose 4B. Precipitates were analysed by SDS-PAGE. We have obtained clear evidence that functionally active Th culture supernatants contain molecules specifically precipitable by anti-TcR antibody.
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