Abstract
We have quantitated the major families of peptides from hen egg lysozyme (HEL) presented by MHC class II I-A(k) molecules. One striking feature is that the four epitopes are presented at levels that differ by as much as 200- to 300-fold. In these studies, we describe the CD4(+) T cell response to each epitope after immunization with several doses of hen egg lysozyme protein. Although fewer T cells were generated at lower doses, the surprising finding was the responses to all four peptides were maintained. The relative number of T cell clones to each of the four epitopes was influenced to a very limited degree by their levels of presentation at the lowest dose. In conclusion, under strong stimulatory conditions, there is not a direct relationship between levels of peptide presentation and the T cell responses.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Antibody Formation / immunology
-
Antigen Presentation / immunology
-
Antigens / administration & dosage*
-
Antigens / chemistry
-
Antigens / immunology
-
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / chemistry*
-
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
-
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
-
Cells, Cultured
-
Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
-
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / administration & dosage*
-
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / chemistry
-
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
-
Female
-
Immunodominant Epitopes / administration & dosage*
-
Immunodominant Epitopes / chemistry
-
Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
-
Lymphocyte Count
-
Male
-
Mice
-
Mice, Inbred C57BL
-
Mice, Inbred CBA
-
Models, Immunological
-
Muramidase / administration & dosage*
-
Muramidase / chemistry
-
Muramidase / immunology
-
Peptide Fragments / immunology
-
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / biosynthesis
Substances
-
Antigens
-
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
-
Immunodominant Epitopes
-
Peptide Fragments
-
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
-
hen egg lysozyme
-
Muramidase