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Antigen recognition by H-2-restricted T cells. I. Cell-free antigen processing
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|August 1, 1983
Summary
Antigen fragmentation is crucial for T cell recognition of soluble antigens. Processing of chicken ovalbumin (cOVA) by accessory cells, like B cells, requires fragmentation for T cell hybridomas to produce interleukin-2.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- T cell recognition of antigens requires presentation by accessory cells.
- Antigen processing by accessory cells is a critical step in initiating T cell responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of antigen fragmentation in T cell recognition.
- To determine how accessory cells process soluble antigens for presentation to T cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cloned chicken ovalbumin (cOVA)-specific T cell hybridomas.
- Employed the Ia+ B cell lymphoma line A20-2J as an antigen-presenting cell.
- Compared the presentation of native, denatured, and fragmented cOVA by viable and fixed A20-2J cells.
Main Results:
- Viable A20-2J cells presented native, denatured, and fragmented cOVA similarly.
- Glutaraldehyde-fixed A20-2J cells could only present enzymatically or chemically fragmented cOVA.
- T cell hybridomas produced interleukin-2 in response to cOVA presented by A20-2J cells.
Conclusions:
- Antigen fragmentation appears necessary for accessory cell processing of soluble antigens.
- Fragmentation is sufficient to define the processing required for T cell recognition in association with I-region molecules.