TCRα genes direct MHC restriction in the potent human T cell response to a class I-bound viral epitope

Abstract

The underlying generic properties of alphabeta TCRs that control MHC restriction remain largely unresolved. To investigate MHC restriction, we have examined the CTL response to a viral epitope that binds promiscuously to two human leukocyte Ags (HLAs) that differ by a single amino acid at position 156. Individuals expressing either HLA-B*3501 (156Leucine) or HLA-B*3508 (156Arginine) showed a potent CTL response to the 407HPVGEADYFEY417 epitope from EBV. Interestingly, the response was characterized by highly restricted TCR beta-chain usage in both HLA-B*3501+ and HLA-B*3508+ individuals; however, this conserved TRBV9+ beta-chain was associated with distinct TCR alpha-chains depending upon th..