Peptide-dependent recognition of H-2Kb by alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Abstract

ANTIGEN-specific T lymphocytes appear to recognize foreign antigens in the form of peptide fragments presented within the antigen-binding groove of class I or class II molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Alloreactive T cells also show specificity for MHC molecules, and various reports suggest that residues of the MHC molecules constitute at least part of the ligand to which alloreactive T-cell receptors bind. The X-ray crystal structure of the human MHC class I molecule, HLA-A25, has provided evidence to strengthen the argument that MHC-bound self-peptide might also contribute to such recognition. We now provide direct evidence for this, showing that at least som..