The insulin-specific T cells of nonobese diabetic mice recognize a weak MHC-binding segment in more than one form

MG Levisetti, A Suri, SJ Petzold… - The Journal of …, 2007 - journals.aai.org
MG Levisetti, A Suri, SJ Petzold, ER Unanue
The Journal of Immunology, 2007journals.aai.org
Several naturally occurring anti-insulin CD4 T cells were isolated from islet infiltrates of NOD
mice. In accordance with the results of others, these T cells recognized the segment of the β-
chain from residues 9–23. Peptides encompassing the B:(9–23) sequence bound weakly to
IA g7 in two main contiguous registers in which two residues at the carboxyl end, P20Gly
and P21Glu, influenced binding and T cell reactivity. Naturally occurring insulin-reactive T
cells exhibited differing reactivities with the carboxyl-terminal amino acids, although various …
Abstract
Several naturally occurring anti-insulin CD4 T cells were isolated from islet infiltrates of NOD mice. In accordance with the results of others, these T cells recognized the segment of the β-chain from residues 9–23. Peptides encompassing the B:(9–23) sequence bound weakly to IA g7 in two main contiguous registers in which two residues at the carboxyl end, P20Gly and P21Glu, influenced binding and T cell reactivity. Naturally occurring insulin-reactive T cells exhibited differing reactivities with the carboxyl-terminal amino acids, although various single residue changes in either the flanks or the core segments affected T cell responses. The insulin peptides represent another example of a weak MHC-binding ligand that is highly immunogenic, giving rise to distinct populations of autoimmune T cells.
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