Abstract
The immune system confronts antigens through the variable domains of antigen receptors on lymphocytes. The biochemistry of these antigen receptors is fundamental to the understanding of the immune system. Whilst B cells use immunoglobulins (Ig) as antigen receptors, T cells use unknown molecules which appear to differ from Ig except for the shared variable region of the Ig heavy chain (VH). The notion that T-cell receptors consist, at least in part, of immunoglobulin VH regions stems largely from experiments using anti-idiotypic antibodies1–3. Much serological and genetic evidence has meanwhile accumulated suggesting that VH associated idiotypic determinants are shared between Ig molecules and the antigen receptors of certain classes of T cells including helper cells, cells proliferating on mixed lymphocyte reaction delayed type hypersensitive reactive cells, and cytotoxk T cells 4–7. This pertains to structural elements associated with hypervariable portions of VH, but data on framework elements of VH regions of T cells are scarce8,9. We have previously reported that mouse T-cell receptors react with a rabbit antibody to the VH fragment of MOPC 315 (anti-VH)10–12. The VH framework determinants appeared polymorphic in that the T-helper cells as well as the immunoglobulin heavy (H) chains of a variety of mouse strains reacted equally well, except in the case of strain AKR12,13. We report here the genetic control of the VH framework determinant whose expression through T-helper cells seems to be governed by at least one gene linked to the Igh allotype linkage group. Thus, this VH framework determinant behaves like the rabbit VH region allotypes which are expressed on both immunoglobulin H chains and T-cell receptors8,9. These data suggest the expression of entire VH regions in T-cell antigen receptors1–3.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Eichmann, K. Adv. Immun. 26, 195–254 (1978).
Binz, H. & Wigzell, H. Contemp. Topics Immunobiol. 7, 113–172 (1977).
Rajewsky, K. & Eichmann, K. Contemp. Topics Immunobiol. 7, 69–107 (1977).
Eichmann, K. Immune System: Genetics and Regulation (eds Sercarz, E., Herzenberg, L. & Fox, F.) 127–138 (Academic, New York, 1977).
Binz, H., Wigzell, H. & Bazin, H. Nature 264, 639–640 (1977).
Krammer, P. & Eichmann, K. Nature 270, 733 (1977).
Rubin, B., Hertel-Wulff, B. & Kimura, A. J. exp. Med. 150, 307–321 (1979).
Krawinkel, U., Cramer, M., Mage, R., Kelus, A. & Rajewsky, K. J. exp. Med. 146, 792–809 (1977).
Cazenave, P. A., Cavaillon, J. M. & Bona, C. Immun. Rev. 34, 34–72 (1977).
Lonai, P., Ben-Neriah, Y., Steinman, L. & Givol, D. Eur. J. Immun. 8, 827–834 (1978).
Puvi, J., Ben-Neriah, Y., Givol, D. & Lonai, P. Eur. J. Immun. (in the press).
Eichmann, K. et al. Eur. J. Immun. 10, 105 (1980).
Ben-Neriah, Y., Wuilmart, C., Lonai, P. & Givol, D. Eur. J. Immun. 8, 797–806 (1978).
Black, S. J., Hämmerling, G. J., Berek, C., Rajewsky, K. & Eichmann, K. J. exp. Med. 143, 846–862 (1976).
Cramer, M. et al. Eur. J. Immun. 9, 332–337 (1979).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Neriah, Y., Givol, D., Lonai, P. et al. Allotype-linked genetic control of a polymorphic VH framework determinant on mouse T-helper cell receptors. Nature 285, 257–259 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/285257a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/285257a0
This article is cited by
-
Genetic chasing of T helper cell idiotype and allotype genes
Immunogenetics (1982)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.