Abstract
CELL membrane structures controlled by genes in the major histocompatibility complex (H–2 in mice) are involved in most immune interactions between T lymphocytes and other cells1. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) immunised against viruses2, haptens3, minor histocompatibility antigens4 or tumour antigens5, are specific for self H–2 antigens as well as for the foreign antigen. But CTL are not restricted to recognising antigens in combination with only self H–2. H–2d homozygous CTL which have matured in an irradiated H–2d/H–2k host can respond to antigen plus H–2k in addition to antigen plus H–2d (refs 6–8). It is not known whether the H–2 environment in which T cells mature influences their range of specificity, that is, whether CTL from a normal mouse can respond quantitatively as well to antigen plus foreign H–2 as they do to antigen plus self H–2. These experiments were designed to test this influence. The results suggest that host H–2 antigens do exert an effect on the specificity of T-cell responses.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Katz, D. H. Lymphocyte Differentiation, Recognition and Function (Academic, New York, 1977).
Doherty, P. C., Blanden, R. V. & Zinkernagel, R. M. Transplant. Rev. 29, 89–124 (1976).
Shearer, G. M., Rehn, T. G. & Schmitt-Verhulst, A. M. Transplant. Rev. 29, 222–248 (1976).
Bevan, M. J. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 41, 519–527 (1976).
Blank, K. J., Freedman, H. A. & Lilly, F. Nature 260, 250–252 (1976).
Pfizenmaier, K. et al. J. exp. Med. 143, 999–1004 (1976).
Zinkernagel, R. M. Nature 261, 139–141 (1976).
von Boehmer, H. & Haas, W. Nature 261, 141–142 (1976).
Bailey, D. W. Immunogenetics 2, 249–256 (1975).
Staats, J. Cancer Res. 36, 4333–4377 (1976).
Bevan, M. J. J. exp. Med. 142, 1349–1365 (1975).
MacDonald, H. R., Philipps, R. A. & Miller, R. G. J. Immun. 111, 565–574 (1973).
Bevan, M. J. J. Immun. 114, 316–319 (1975).
Jerne, N. K. Eur. J. Immun. 1, 1–9 (1973).
Nabholz, M. & Miggiano, V. in B and T cells in Immune Recognition (eds Loor, F. & Roelants, G. E.) (Wiley, Chichester, UK. 1977).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BEVAN, M. In a radiation chimaera, host H–2 antigens determine immune responsiveness of donor cytotoxic cells. Nature 269, 417–418 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269417a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269417a0
This article is cited by
-
How does the immune system learn to distinguish between good and evil? The first definitive studies of T cell central tolerance and positive selection
Immunogenetics (2019)
-
Thymoproteasome and peptidic self
Immunogenetics (2019)
-
Graft‐versus‐host disease: who's responsible?
Immunology & Cell Biology (2012)
-
Immunological tolerance 50 years after the Burnet Nobel Prize
Immunology & Cell Biology (2011)
-
The golden anniversary of the thymus
Nature Reviews Immunology (2011)
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.