Fine specificity mapping of two allospecific T cell lines: recognition of private specificities in the H‐2 IA subregion

Abstract

Two allospecific T cell lines, C.C3.11.75 (H‐2^d anti‐H‐2^k) and B6.C.7.76 (H‐2^b anti‐H‐2^d), established from mixed lymphocyte cultures, were selected by continuous antigenic stimulation over several years. Both cell lines proliferated to alloantigen, provided allohelp to B cells in the humoral antibody response, and one of them showed cytolytic activity. Using spleen cells from various congenic mouse strains, the specificity of antigen recognition was examined in order to examine whether there is a correlation between T cell function and antigen recognition. Results showed that in all functional assays, the same antigenic determinant, a private specificity encoded in IA, was recognized. This shows that there is no obligatory correlation between T cell function and antigen recognition and may suggest that the T cell receptor repertoire is biased towards recognizing private specificities.