[PDF][PDF] T cell allorecognition via molecular mimicry

WA Macdonald, Z Chen, S Gras, JK Archbold… - Immunity, 2009 - cell.com
WA Macdonald, Z Chen, S Gras, JK Archbold, FE Tynan, CS Clements, M Bharadwaj
Immunity, 2009cell.com
T cells often alloreact with foreign human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Here we showed the
LC13 T cell receptor (TCR), selected for recognition on self-HLA-B∗ 0801 bound to a viral
peptide, alloreacts with B44 allotypes (HLA-B∗ 4402 and HLA-B∗ 4405) bound to two
different allopeptides. Despite extensive polymorphism between HLA-B∗ 0801, HLA-B∗
4402, and HLA-B∗ 4405 and the disparate sequences of the viral and allopeptides, the
LC13 TCR engaged these peptide-HLA (pHLA) complexes identically, accommodating …
Summary
T cells often alloreact with foreign human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Here we showed the LC13 T cell receptor (TCR), selected for recognition on self-HLA-B0801 bound to a viral peptide, alloreacts with B44 allotypes (HLA-B4402 and HLA-B4405) bound to two different allopeptides. Despite extensive polymorphism between HLA-B0801, HLA-B4402, and HLA-B4405 and the disparate sequences of the viral and allopeptides, the LC13 TCR engaged these peptide-HLA (pHLA) complexes identically, accommodating mimicry of the viral peptide by the allopeptide. The viral and allopeptides adopted similar conformations only after TCR ligation, revealing an induced-fit mechanism of molecular mimicry. The LC13 T cells did not alloreact against HLA-B4403, and the single residue polymorphism between HLA-B4402 and HLA-B4403 affected the plasticity of the allopeptide, revealing that molecular mimicry was associated with TCR specificity. Accordingly, molecular mimicry that is HLA and peptide dependent is a mechanism for human T cell alloreactivity between disparate cognate and allogeneic pHLA complexes.
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