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Binding of immunogenic peptides to Ia histocompatibility molecules

Nature volume 317, pages 359–361 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Most cellular interactions essential for the development of an immune response involve the membrane glycoproteins encoded in the major histocompatibility gene complex1–3. The products of the I region, the class II histocompatibility molecules (Ia molecules), are essential for accessory cells such as macrophages to present polypeptide antigens to helper T cells. This interaction, antigen presentation, is needed for T-cell recognition of the antigen and its consequent activation. How the Ia molecules regulate the immune response during antigen presentation is not known, although it is commonly thought to result from their association with the presented antigen1,4,5. Recent studies, including the elucidation of the structure of the T-cell receptor, favour recognition of a single structure, an antigen–Ia complex6–8. Here we report attempts to determine whether purified Ia glycoproteins have an affinity for polypeptide antigens presented by intact cells in an Ia-restricted manner. We first identified the epitope of a peptide antigen involved in presentation9. Several laboratories have shown that globular proteins are altered (processed) in intracellular vesicles of the antigen-presenting cell before antigen presentation10–12. A major component of the T-cell response is directed toward determinants found in the unfolded or denatured molecule, and our laboratory has shown that the determinant of the hen-egg lysozyme protein (HEL), presented in H–2k mice to T cells, is a sequence of only 10 amino acids9. This portion resides in an area of the native molecule partially buried inside the molecule, in a β-sheet conformation. To be presented, intact or native HEL must first be processed in acidic intracellular vesicles12. Having isolated the peptide responsible for T-cell recognition of HEL, we sought a physical association of this peptide with purified, detergent-solubilized I–Ak molecules from B-hybridoma cells. We have found such an association, which may explain the role of the Ia glycoproteins in cellular interactions.

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Author notes

  1. Bruce P. Babbitt, Paul M. Allen and Emil R. Unanue: Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA

  2. Gary Matsueda and Edgar Haber: Cardiac Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

    Bruce P. Babbitt, Paul M. Allen, Gary Matsueda, Edgar Haber & Emil R. Unanue

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  1. Bruce P. Babbitt
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  2. Paul M. Allen
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  3. Gary Matsueda
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  4. Edgar Haber
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  5. Emil R. Unanue
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Babbitt, B., Allen, P., Matsueda, G. et al. Binding of immunogenic peptides to Ia histocompatibility molecules. Nature 317, 359–361 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/317359a0

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