T cell activation by purified, soluble, class I MHC molecules: Requirement for polyvalency

Abstract

To examine the nature of the interaction of the TCR with the MHC class I Ag, we have studied the stimulation requirements of an H-2D(d)-reactive T cell hybridoma, using a homogeneous, purified preparation of a molecularly engineered soluble counterpart of the class I Ag, H-2D(d)/Q10b. We demonstrate that this monovalent, soluble MHC Ag is incapable of stimulating the release of IL-2 from this T cell hybridoma. However, the same preparation of the purified protein can elicit a dose-dependent response when made multivalent either by covalent coupling to soluble, high m.w. dextran or to agarose beads, or by adsorption to polystyrene tissue culture plates.