Abstract
T cells compete in the response to antigen in vivo and this competition may drive the affinity maturation of a secondary T cell response. Here we show that high-affinity T cells out-competed lower affinity T cells during a response to antigenic challenge in vivo. Although competition between T cells specific for different peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) occurred, it was less efficient than competition between T cells of the same peptide-MHC specificity. In addition, high-affinity T cells efficiently induced antigen loss from the surface of antigen-presenting cells. Thus T cells that responded to the same peptide-MHC competed with each other by lowering the amount of ligand with which the cells could react. As a result, the activation of high-affinity cells was favored. This provides a mechanism for the affinity maturation of a secondary T cell response.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adoptive Transfer
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Animals
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Antigen Presentation*
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Antigens / immunology*
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Antigens / metabolism
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Antigens, Viral / immunology*
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Binding, Competitive
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Cell Membrane / immunology*
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Cell Membrane / metabolism
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Clone Cells / immunology
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Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
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Dendritic Cells / immunology
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Dendritic Cells / metabolism
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Egg Proteins / immunology*
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Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte*
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Glycoproteins / immunology*
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H-2 Antigens / immunology*
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Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D
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Immunologic Memory
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Lymphocyte Count
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Macromolecular Substances
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Oligopeptides / immunology*
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Ovalbumin / immunology*
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Peptide Fragments / immunology*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
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Viral Proteins / immunology*
Substances
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Antigens
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Antigens, Viral
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Egg Proteins
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Glycoproteins
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H-2 Antigens
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H-2Kb protein, mouse
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Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D
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Macromolecular Substances
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OVA-8
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Oligopeptides
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Peptide Fragments
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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Viral Proteins
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glycoprotein peptide 33-41, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
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superagonist SIYR
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Ovalbumin