Clonotypic antibodies which stimulate T cell clone proliferation

We have prepared a variety of antisera which recognize the T cell receptors on both alloreactive and antigen-specific functional clones. The antisera specifically stimulate the immunizing T cell clones to proliferate without cross-stimulating a variety of other clones and are thus clonotypic. The antisera specifically precipitate an 82k molecular weight complex unique to the immunizing clone and an independent common component present on all the helper T cell clones tested. The 82k molecular weight complex consists of a heterodimer, which can be resolved into an acidic (a) chain and a more basic (beta) chain. The beta subunit differs in its isoelectric focusing pattern when isolated from two A derived clones which recognize and respond to different alloantigens. Thus, the functional specificity of the antibodies is reflected in identifiable changes in molecules at the biochemical level.