Major histocompatibility complex class I-specific and -restricted killing of beta 2-microglobulin-deficient cells by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
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Abstract:
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, normally composed of a heavy chain, a beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m), and peptide antigens. beta 2m is considered essential for the assembly and intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules as well as their peptide presentation to CTLs. Contrary to this dogma, we now report the generation of allospecific and restricted CD8+ and TCR alpha beta+ CTLs (where TCR is T-cell receptor) capable of killing beta 2m-deficient cells. Such CTLs were obtained by priming mice with live allogeneic beta 2m- spleen cells or mutant lymphoma cells producing MHC class I protein but no detectable beta 2m. Although both beta 2m- and beta 2m-expressing lymphoma cells were rejected in allogeneic mice, only the former were efficient inducers of CTLs recognizing beta 2m- cells. These CTLs were MHC class I (H-2Kb or Db)-specific and CD8-dependent and did not require serum as a source of external beta 2m in the culture. They could be induced across major and minor histocompatibility barriers. The H-2-restricted CTLs generated in the latter case failed to kill the antigen-processing-deficient target RMA-S cells. The results show that MHC class I heavy chains in beta 2m- cells can be transported to the cell surface and act as antigens or antigen-presenting molecules to allospecific and MHC-restricted CTLs.Keywords:
Beta-2 microglobulin
CD1
BETA (programming language)
MHC restriction
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Minor histocompatibility antigen
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Abstract NK cells and CD8+ T cells bind MHC-I molecules using distinct topological interactions. Specifically, murine NK inhibitory receptors bind MHC-I molecules at both the MHC-I H chain regions and β2-microglobulin (β2m) while TCR engages MHC-I molecules at a region defined solely by the class I H chain and bound peptide. As such, alterations in β2m are not predicted to influence functional recognition of MHC-I by TCR. We have tested this hypothesis by assessing the capability of xenogeneic β2m to modify the interaction between TCR and MHC-I. Using a human β2m-transgenic C57BL/6 mouse model, we show that human β2m supports formation and expression of H-2Kb and peptide:H-2Kb complexes at levels nearly equivalent to those in wild-type mice. Despite this finding, the frequencies of CD8+ single-positive thymocytes in the thymus and mature CD8+ T cells in the periphery were significantly reduced and the TCR Vβ repertoire of peripheral CD8+ T cells was skewed in the human β2m-transgenic mice. Furthermore, the ability of mouse β2m-restricted CTL to functionally recognize human β2m+ target cells was diminished compared with their ability to recognize mouse β2m+ target cells. Finally, we provide evidence that this effect is achieved through subtle conformational changes occurring in the distal, peptide-binding region of the MHC-I molecule. Our results indicate that alterations in β2m influence the ability of TCR to engage MHC-I during normal T cell physiology.
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MHC restriction
Receptor–ligand kinetics
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Class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are expressed on the cell surface of almost all nucleated mammalian cells. Their main function is to transport and present peptides, derived from intracellularly degraded proteins, to cytotoxic T cells (CTL). They are also directly involved in the process leading to maturation and selection of a functional CD8+ T cell repertoire. MHC class I molecules consist of a highly polymorphic membrane spanning heavy chain of approximately 45 kD that is non-covalently associated with a light chain, beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m). Class I molecules bind peptides, usually 8-11 amino acids in length. The majority of the class I-bound peptides are generated in the cytosol and are subsequently translocated into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the ATP-dependent transporter associated with antigen processing 1/2 (TAP1/2). Here, we provide an up-to-date review summarizing the most essential parts relating to MHC class I-mediated antigen processing, presentation and T cell selection. A particular emphasis is devoted to the structure of MHC class I molecule, and MHC class I-bound peptides.
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Summary: In this review, we discuss recent data from our laboratory that address two aspects of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I‐restricted antigen processing. First, we consider the nature of the peptide‐loading complex, which is the assembly of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) into which newly synthesized MHC class I‐β 2 microglobulin (β 2 m) heterodimers are incorporated, and the mechanisms involved in MHC class I assembly and peptide loading that are facilitated by the peptide‐loading complex. Second, we discuss mechanisms of cross‐presentation, the phenomenon whereby extracellular and luminal protein antigens can be processed by antigen‐presenting cells, particularly dendritic cells, and presented by MHC class I molecules to CD8 + T cells. The focus of the discussion is mainly on the human MHC class I system.
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CD74
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Triggering of a T cell requires interaction between its specific receptor (TCR) and a peptide antigen presented by a self–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. TCR recognition of self-MHC by itself falls below the threshold of detection in most systems due to low affinity. To study this interaction, we have used a read-out system in which antigen-specific effector T cells are confronted with targets expressing high levels of MHC compared with the selecting and priming environment. More specifically, the system is based on CD8+ T cells selected in an environment with subnormal levels of MHC class I in the absence of β2-microglobulin. We observe that the MHC restriction element can trigger viral peptide-specific T cells independently of the peptide ligand, provided there is an increase in self-MHC density. Peptide-independent triggering required at least four times the natural in vivo level of MHC expression. Furthermore, recognition of the restriction element at expression levels below this threshold was still enough to compensate for lack of affinity to peptides carrying alanine substitutions in major TCR contact residues. Thus, the specificity in TCR recognition and T cell activation is fine tuned by the avidity for self-MHC, and TCR avidities for peptide and MHC may substitute for each other. These results demonstrate a functional role for TCR avidity for self-MHC in tuning of T cell specificity, and support a role for cross-reactivity on “self” during T cell selection and activation.
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Beta-2 microglobulin
CD1
MHC restriction
Antigen processing
CD74
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Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, normally composed of a heavy chain, a beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m), and peptide antigens. beta 2m is considered essential for the assembly and intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules as well as their peptide presentation to CTLs. Contrary to this dogma, we now report the generation of allospecific and restricted CD8+ and TCR alpha beta+ CTLs (where TCR is T-cell receptor) capable of killing beta 2m-deficient cells. Such CTLs were obtained by priming mice with live allogeneic beta 2m- spleen cells or mutant lymphoma cells producing MHC class I protein but no detectable beta 2m. Although both beta 2m- and beta 2m-expressing lymphoma cells were rejected in allogeneic mice, only the former were efficient inducers of CTLs recognizing beta 2m- cells. These CTLs were MHC class I (H-2Kb or Db)-specific and CD8-dependent and did not require serum as a source of external beta 2m in the culture. They could be induced across major and minor histocompatibility barriers. The H-2-restricted CTLs generated in the latter case failed to kill the antigen-processing-deficient target RMA-S cells. The results show that MHC class I heavy chains in beta 2m- cells can be transported to the cell surface and act as antigens or antigen-presenting molecules to allospecific and MHC-restricted CTLs.
Beta-2 microglobulin
CD1
BETA (programming language)
MHC restriction
Priming (agriculture)
Minor histocompatibility antigen
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Beta 2-Microglobulin-deficient (beta 2m -/-) mice are reported to lack cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, CD8+ T cells, and the ability to mount MHC class I-specific T cell responses. We have observed that beta 2m -/- mice possess CD8+ T cells that can be induced to perform strong allospecific cytotoxic responses against nonself-MHC class I by in vivo priming. We report that these beta 2m -/- cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) differ from those induced in beta 2m-positive littermates in that they cross-react and kill cells expressing self-MHC class I at normal ligand density with beta 2m. beta 2m -/- CTL could even be induced in primary mixed lymphocyte culture by self-MHC class I expressing stimulator cells, whereas allogeneic stimulator cells failed to elicit a response under similar conditions. Cells with a reduced cell surface MHC class I expression were less sensitive, while syngeneic beta 2m -/- cells were resistant to the beta 2m -/- CTL. This antiself-MHC reactivity could not be induced when beta 2m -/- T cells matured in an environment with normal MHC class I expression in bone marrow chimeric mice. Antiself-MHC reactivity was also observed against human peptide loading-deficient cells expressing the appropriate murine class I molecules, suggesting that affinity to self-MHC class I may occur irrespective of peptide content. The results fit with a model where positive and negative selection of CD8+ T cells in beta 2m -/- mice is mediated by low levels of MHC class I free heavy chains. In this model, low ligand density on selecting cells leads to positive selection of rare T cells that bind to low levels of MHC class I free heavy chains, resulting in a very small peripheral CD8+ compartment. Due to low density of the selecting ligand, negative selection does not remove T cells recognizing beta 2m-positive cells expressing self-MHC class I at normal ligand density, which generates a T cell repertoire that would be autoreactive in a beta 2m-positive littermate. The first "MHC deficient" animals thus paradoxically provide a tool for direct demonstration and analysis of self MHC bias in the T cell repertoire.
Beta-2 microglobulin
CTL*
MHC restriction
BETA (programming language)
CD1
Priming (agriculture)
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