Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Triggering Of The T3-Ti Antigen-Receptor Complex Results In Clonal T-Cell Proliferation Through An Interleukin 2-Dependent Autocrine Pathway., Stefan C. Meuer, Rebecca E. Hussey, Doreen A. Cantrell, James C. Hodgdon, Stuart F. Schlossman, Kendall A. Smith, Ellis L. Reinherz

Dartmouth Scholarship

Human T-cell clones and anti-T-cell-receptor antibodies (clonotypic) directed at surface receptors for antigen (T3-Ti molecular complex) as well as anti-interleukin 2 (IL-2) and anti-IL-2-receptor antibodies were utilized to investigate the mechanism by which alloantigens or antigen plus self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (i.e., physiologic ligand) trigger specific clonal proliferation. Soluble or Sepharose-bound anti-Ti monoclonal antibodies, like physiologic ligand, enhanced proliferative responses to purified IL-2 by inducing a 6-fold increase in surface IL-2 receptor expression. In contrast, only Sepharose-bound anti-Ti or physiologic ligand triggered endogenous clonal IL-2 production and resulted in subsequent proliferation. The latter was blocked by antibodies directed at either …