Evidence for an intercellular covalent reaction essential in antigen-specific T cell activation

The inductive interaction between class II+ APC and Th cell was investigated in a human system at the chemical level. The study set out to test the predictions of a model of Ag presentation in which epsilon-amino groups and carbonyl groups at the surface of APC and T cell react covalently to form reversible intercellular Schiff bases. In the experimental system of oxidative mitogenesis this process results in T cell activation. If oxidative mitogenesis is an experimental amplification of a physiologic process, and intercellular Schiff base formation is essential in Ag presentation, then it should be possible to inhibit Ag presentation by prior formation of Schiff bases on the surface of participating cells. In this situation Ag-induced T cell activation and T cell activation induced by periodate oxidation should invariably behave in the same way. It should also be possible to demonstrate Schiff base formation occurring between accessory cells and lymphocytes directly and definitively by means of specific reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride. Aldehyde treatment of accessory cells should prevent this intercellular Schiff base formation. In this study the following observations were made. 1) Both Ag-specific and periodate-induced T cell activation were inhibited by aldehyde treatment of class II+ accessory cells. 2) Noncross-linking donors of carbonyl groups other than aldehydes inhibited Ag-specific T cell activation. 3) Brief, low-dose treatment of T cells with aldehydes inhibited Ag-dependent T-cell activation. 4) Exogenous amino groups in the form of lysine and other amino acids inhibited both Ag-specific and periodate-induced T-cell activation. 5) The weak reducing agent sodium cyanoborohydride which is specific for Schiff bases at neutral pH inhibited both Ag-induced and periodate-induced T cell activation. Responses to PHA were markedly prolonged by this reagent. 6) Schiff base formation occurring between accessory cells and lymphocytes was detected directly and definitively by means of radiolabeling with NaCNB(3H)3 at neutral pH. These data are consistent with the view that the formation of reversible covalent Schiff bases between ligands on APC and T cell is an essential process in Ag-induced T cell activation.