Hapten addition to an MHC class I-binding peptide causes substantial adjustments of the TCR structure of the responding CD8(+) T cells.

T cell responses against hapten-modified peptides play an important role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases, including contact dermatitis and allergy. However, the structural features of TCRs recognizing bulky, potentially mobile hapten groups remain poorly defined. To analyze the structural basis of TCR recognition of defined hapten-modified peptides, the immunodominant octapeptide derived from vesicular stomatitis virus nucleoprotein (VSV8) was modified with a trinitrophenyl (TNP) group at the primary TCR contact residues (position 4 or 6) and used for immunization of mice carrying either the TCR alpha- or beta-chain of a VSV8 (unmodified)/H-2K(b)-specific CTL clone as a transgene. Such mice allow independent analysis of one TCR chain by maintaining the other fixed. The TCR V gene usage of the responding T cell population was specifically altered depending upon the presence of the TNP group and its position on the peptide. The CDR3 sequences of the TNP-modified peptide-specific TCRs showed a preferential J region usage in both the CDR3alpha and beta loops, indicating that the J regions of both CDR3s are critical for recognition of TNP-modified peptides. In contrast to our previous observations showing the prime importance of CDR3beta residues encoded by D-segment or N-addition nucleotides for recognition of position 6 of unmodified VSV8, our studies of TNP-modified peptides demonstrate the importance of the Jbeta region, while the Jalpha region was crucial for recognizing both TNP-modified and unmodified peptides. These data suggest that different structural strategies are utilized by the CDR3alpha and beta loops to allow interaction with a haptenated peptide.

Immunobiological analysis of TCR single-chain transgenic mice reveals new possibilities for interaction between CDR3alpha and an antigenic peptide bound to MHC class I.

The interaction between TCRs and peptides presented by MHC molecules determines the specificity of the T cell-mediated immune response. To elucidate the biologically important structural features of this interaction, we generated TCR beta-chain transgenic mice using a TCR derived from a T cell clone specific for the immunodominant peptide of vesicular stomatitis virus (RGYVYQGL, VSV8) presented by H-2K(b). We immunized these mice with VSV8 or analogs substituted at TCR contact residues (positions 1, 4, and 6) and analyzed the CDR3alpha sequences of the elicited T cells. In VSV8-specific CTLs, we observed a highly conserved residue at position 93 of CDR3alpha and preferred Jalpha usage, indicating that multiple residues of CDR3alpha are critical for recognition of the peptide. Certain substitutions at peptide position 4 induced changes at position 93 and in Jalpha usage, suggesting a potential interaction between CDR3alpha and position 4. Cross-reactivity data revealed the foremost importance of the Jalpha region in determining Ag specificity. Surprisingly, substitution at position 6 of VSV8 to a negatively charged residue induced a change at position 93 of CDR3alpha to a positively charged residue, suggesting that CDR3alpha may interact with position 6 in certain circumstances. Analogous interactions between the TCR alpha-chain and residues in the C-terminal half of the peptide have not yet been revealed by the limited number of TCR/peptide-MHC crystal structures reported to date. The transgenic mouse approach allows hundreds of TCR/peptide-MHC interactions to be examined comparatively easily, thus permitting a wide-ranging analysis of the possibilities for Ag recognition in vivo.

Autoreactive diabetogenic T-cells in NOD mice can efficiently expand from a greatly reduced precursor pool.

A broad repertoire of pancreatic beta-cell autoreactive T-cells normally contributes to the development of type 1 diabetes in NOD mice. However, it has been unknown if a large reduction in the precursor pool from which autoreactive T-cells are drawn would inhibit the development of type 1 diabetes. To address this issue, we reduced the precursor frequency of autoreactive T-cells in NOD mice through allelic exclusion induced by transgenic expression of an H2-Db class I-restricted T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for a pathologically irrelevant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) peptide. TCR allelic exclusion greatly reduced the pool of T-cells from which diabetogenic effectors could be derived in these NODxLCMV TCR Tg mice. Surprisingly, this did not impair their type 1 diabetes susceptibility. Furthermore, a diabetogenic CD8 T-cell population that is prevalent in standard NOD mice was present at essentially equivalent levels in pancreatic islets of NODxLCMV TCR Tg mice. Other data indicated that the antigenic specificity of these CD8 T-cells is primarily the function of a shared TCR-alpha chain. Although the percentage of TCR transgenic T-cells decreased in NOD versus B6,D2 control mice, much higher total numbers of both the TCR transgenic and the nontransgenic T-cells accumulated in the NOD strain. This transgenic T-cell accumulation in the absence of the cognate peptide indicated that the NOD genetic background preferentially promotes a highly efficient antigen-independent T-cell expansion. This might allow diabetogenic T-cells in NOD mice to undergo an efficient expansion before encountering antigen, which would represent an important and previously unconsidered aspect of pathogenesis.

The effect of CD28/B7 blockade on alloreactive T and B cells after liver cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte cell lines are beginning to be developed as universal donors for isolated liver cell transplantation, which is a less invasive method than orthotopic liver transplantation for treatment of metabolic liver disease. The immune response to isolated liver cell transplantation and its modification by costimulatory blockade are as yet not well delineated. METHODS: Adenovirus expressing CTLA4Ig was used to study blockade of the costimulatory CD28/B7 pathway in murine models of hepatocyte transplantation, and the effects on alloreactive T and B cells were studied. RESULTS: CTLA4Ig delayed rejection of subcutaneously administered C57L-derived murine hepatoma cells in CBA/J recipients for >50 days. Activation and cytokine secretion by allospecific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were initially blocked by CTLA4Ig; delayed rejection was associated with tumor infiltration by CD8+ T cells that did not secrete interferon-gamma. CTLA4Ig failed to block transplant rejection in primed mice, indicating that memory effector T cells were resistant to its action. In contrast, CTLA4Ig suppressed both naive and memory alloreactive B cells. High levels of CTLA4Ig mediated acceptance of hepatoma cells delivered directly into the spleen. However, isolated primary C57BL/6 mouse hepatocytes delivered into the spleen were rejected with only moderately delayed kinetics. CONCLUSIONS: Transplant antigenicity, transplant site, and CTLA4Ig dose all affected the survival of transplanted liver cells. CD8+ T cells are significant mediators of hepatocyte transplant rejection and are relatively resistant to costimulatory blockade with CTLA4Ig. Strategies to specifically antagonize CD8+ T cells or to modulate MHC class I expression in association with costimulatory blockade by CTLA4Ig may enhance the clinical feasibility of transplanting allogeneic hepatocytes.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the complex between human CTLA-4 and B7-2.

CTLA-4 is a dimeric T-cell surface receptor responsible for transducing signals that down-regulate activated T cells upon binding B7 ligands. The disulfide-linked homodimer of the extracellular segment of human CTLA-4 and the receptor-binding domain of human B7-2 were purified and cocrystallized. Diffraction from these crystals is consistent with the monoclinic space group P2(1) (unit-cell parameters a = 47.85, b = 54.56, c = 103.09 A, beta = 91.63); native data have been collected to 3.2 A resolution.

A structural difference limited to one residue of the antigenic peptide can profoundly alter the biological outcome of the TCR-peptide/MHC class I interaction.

The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) octapeptide RGYVYQGL binds to H-2K(b) and triggers a cytotoxic T cell response in mice. A variant peptide, RGYVYEGL (E6) with a glutamic acid for glutamine replacement at position 6 of the VSV peptide, elicits a T cell response with features that are quite different from those elicited by the wild-type VSV peptide. The differences found in the nature of the T cells responding to the E6 peptide include changes in both the V beta elements and the sequences of the complementarity-determining region 3 loops of their TCRs. Further experiments found that the E6 peptide can act as an antagonist for VSV-specific T cell hybridomas. To determine whether these differences in V beta usage, complementarity-determining region 3 sequences, and the switch from agonism to antagonism are caused by a conformational change on the MHC, the peptide, or both, we determined the crystal structure of the variant E6 peptide bound to H-2K(b). This structure shows that the only significant structural difference between H-2K(b)/E6 and the previously determined H-2K(b)/VSV is limited to the side chain of position 6 of the peptide, with no differences in the MHC molecule. Thus, a minor conformational change in the peptide can profoundly alter the biological outcome of the TCR-peptide/MHC interaction.

Structural basis for co-stimulation by the human CTLA-4/B7-2 complex.

Regulation of T-cell activity is dependent on antigen-independent co-stimulatory signals provided by the disulphide-linked homodimeric T-cell surface receptors, CD28 and CTLA-4 (ref. 1). Engagement of CD28 with B7-1 and B7-2 ligands on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) provides a stimulatory signal for T-cell activation, whereas subsequent engagement of CTLA-4 with these same ligands results in attenuation of the response. Given their central function in immune modulation, CTLA-4- and CD28-associated signalling pathways are primary therapeutic targets for preventing autoimmune disease, graft versus host disease, graft rejection and promoting tumour immunity. However, little is known about the cell-surface organization of these receptor/ligand complexes and the structural basis for signal transduction. Here we report the 3.2-A resolution structure of the complex between the disulphide-linked homodimer of human CTLA-4 and the receptor-binding domain of human B7-2. The unusual dimerization properties of both CTLA-4 and B7-2 place their respective ligand-binding sites distal to the dimer interface in each molecule and promote the formation of an alternating arrangement of bivalent CTLA-4 and B7-2 dimers that extends throughout the crystal. Direct observation of this CTLA-4/B7-2 network provides a model for the periodic organization of these molecules within the immunological synapse and suggests a distinct mechanism for signalling by dimeric cell-surface receptors.

Efficient T cell activation requires an optimal dwell-time of interaction between the TCR and the pMHC complex.

Cytotoxic T cell (CTL) activation by antigen requires the specific detection of peptide-major histocompatibility class I (pMHC) molecules on the target-cell surface by the T cell receptor (TCR). We examined the effect of mutations in the antigen-binding site of a Kb-restricted TCR on T cell activation, antigen binding and dissociation from antigen.These parameters were also examined for variants derived from a Kd-restricted peptide that was recognized by a CTL clone. Using these two independent systems, we show that T cell activation can be impaired by mutations that either decrease or increase the binding half-life of the TCR-pMHC interaction. Our data indicate that efficient T cell activation occurs within an optimal dwell-time range of TCR-pMHC interaction. This restricted dwell-time range is consistent with the exclusion of either extremely low or high affinity T cells from the expanded population during immune responses.

Structure of murine CTLA-4 and its role in modulating T cell responsiveness.

The effective regulation of T cell responses is dependent on opposing signals transmitted through two related cell-surface receptors, CD28 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). Dimerization of CTLA-4 is required for the formation of high-avidity complexes with B7 ligands and for transmission of signals that attenuate T cell activation. We determined the crystal structure of the extracellular portion of CTLA-4 to 2.0 angstrom resolution. CTLA-4 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and displays a strand topology similar to Valpha domains, with an unusual mode of dimerization that places the B7 binding sites distal to the dimerization interface. This organization allows each CTLA-4 dimer to bind two bivalent B7 molecules and suggests that a periodic arrangement of these components within the immunological synapse may contribute to the regulation of T cell responsiveness.

Molecular recognition of human CD1b antigen complexes: evidence for a common pattern of interaction with alpha beta TCRs.

Ag-specific T cell recognition is mediated through direct interaction of clonotypic TCRs with complexes formed between Ag-presenting molecules and their bound ligands. Although characterized in substantial detail for class I and class II MHC encoded molecules, the molecular interactions responsible for TCR recognition of the CD1 lipid and glycolipid Ag-presenting molecules are not yet well understood. Using a panel of epitope-specific Abs and site-specific mutants of the CD1b molecule, we showed that TCR interactions occur on the membrane distal aspects of the CD1b molecule over the alpha1 and alpha2 domain helices. The location of residues on CD1b important for this interaction suggested that TCRs bind in a diagonal orientation relative to the longitudinal axes of the alpha helices. The data point to a model in which TCR interaction extends over the opening of the putative Ag-binding groove, making multiple direct contacts with both alpha helices and bound Ag. Although reminiscent of TCR interaction with MHC class I, our data also pointed to significant differences between the TCR interactions with CD1 and MHC encoded Ag-presenting molecules, indicating that Ag receptor binding must be modified to accommodate the unique molecular structure of the CD1b molecule and the unusual Ags it presents.

Altered peptide ligand-mediated TCR antagonism can be modulated by a change in a single amino acid residue within the CDR3 beta of an MHC class I-restricted TCR.

The Ag receptor of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes recognizes peptides of 8-10 aa bound to MHC class I molecules. This Ag recognition event leads to the activation of the CD8+ lymphocyte and subsequent lysis of the target cell. Altered peptide ligands are analogues derived from the original antigenic peptide that commonly carry amino acid substitutions at TCR contact residues. TCR engagement by these altered peptide ligands usually impairs normal T cell function. Some of these altered peptide ligands (antagonists) are able to specifically antagonize and inhibit T cell activation induced by the wild-type antigenic peptide. Despite significant advances made in understanding TCR antagonism, the molecular interactions between the TCR and the MHC/peptide complex responsible for the inhibitory activity of antagonist peptides remain elusive. To approach this question, we have identified altered peptide ligands derived from the vesicular stomatitis virus peptide (RGYVYQGL) that specifically antagonize an H-2Kb/vesicular stomatitis virus-specific TCR. Furthermore, by site-directed mutagenesis, we altered single amino acid residues of the complementarity-determining region 3 of the beta-chain of this TCR and tested the effect of these point mutations on Ag recognition and TCR antagonism. Here we show that a single amino acid change on the TCR CDR3 beta loop can modulate the TCR-antagonistic properties of an altered peptide ligand. Our results highlight the role of the TCR complementarity-determining region 3 loops for controlling the nature of the T cell response to TCR/altered peptide ligand interactions, including those leading to TCR antagonism.

Identification of a CD8 T cell that can independently mediate autoimmune diabetes development in the complete absence of CD4 T cell helper functions.

Previous work has indicated that an important component for the initiation of autoimmune insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the NOD mouse model entails MHC class I-restricted CD8 T cell responses against pancreatic beta cell Ags. However, unless previously activated in vitro, such CD8 T cells have previously been thought to require helper functions provided by MHC class II-restricted CD4 T cells to exert their full diabetogenic effects. In this study, we show that IDDM development is greatly accelerated in a stock of NOD mice expressing TCR transgenes derived from a MHC class I-restricted CD8 T cell clone (designated AI4) previously found to contribute to the earliest preclinical stages of pancreatic beta cell destruction. Importantly, these TCR transgenic NOD mice (designated NOD.AI4alphabeta Tg) continued to develop IDDM at a greatly accelerated rate when residual CD4 helper T cells were eliminated by introduction of the scid mutation or a functionally inactivated CD4 allele. In a previously described stock of NOD mice expressing TCR transgenes derived from another MHC class I-restricted beta cell autoreactive T cell clone, IDDM development was retarded by elimination of residual CD4 T cells. Hence, there is variability in the helper dependence of CD8 T cells contributing to the development of autoimmune IDDM. The AI4 clonotype represents the first CD8 T cell with a demonstrated ability to progress from a naive to functionally activated state and rapidly mediate autoimmune IDDM development in the complete absence of CD4 T cell helper functions.

A simplified procedure for the preparation of MHC/peptide tetramers: chemical biotinylation of an unpaired cysteine engineered at the C-terminus of MHC-I.

Recently, a powerful approach for the detection of MHC/peptide-specific T cells has been made possible by the engineering of soluble-tetrameric MHC/peptide complexes, consisting of singly biotinylated MHC/peptide molecules bound to fluorescent-labeled streptavidin. These tetrameric molecules are thought to compensate for the low affinity and relative fast dissociation rate of the TCR/MHC-peptide interaction by increasing the avidity of this interaction, thus allowing the stable binding of MHC/peptide tetramers to TCR expressing cells. Here we describe a new more simplified procedure for obtaining MHC/peptide tetramers using the well-characterized H-2K(b)/VSV system. This procedure consists of the incorporation of an unpaired cysteine residue at the C-terminus of the H-2K(b) molecule, allowing site-specific biotinylation by a -SH-specific biotinylating reagent. The H-2K(b)/VSV tetramers bound only to hybridomas expressing H-2K(b)/VSV-specific TCRs. When coated on a plate, these tetramers were able to induce IL-2 release by those hybridomas. Furthermore, H-2K(b)/VSV tetramers bound to CTL populations obtained from mice immunized with VSV-peptide. The specificity of the binding was further refined by studying cross-recognition of VSV by CTL populations obtained from mice immunized with single amino acid substituted VSV peptide variants. H-2K(b)/VSV tetramers bound only to those CTL populations that cross-reacted with the wild-type VSV peptide. Our method provides a simple, efficient and inexpensive procedure for making MHC/peptide tetramers, a highly specific and very useful reagent with a number of important applications in basic and clinical T cell research.

Binding of longer peptides to the H-2Kb heterodimer is restricted to peptides extended at their C terminus: refinement of the inherent MHC class I peptide binding criteria.

MHC class I molecules usually bind short peptides of 8-10 amino acids, and binding is dependent on allele-specific anchor residues. However, in a number of cellular systems, class I molecules have been found containing peptides longer than the canonical size. To understand the structural requirements for MHC binding of longer peptides, we used an in vitro class I MHC folding assay to examine peptide variants of the antigenic VSV 8 mer core peptide containing length extensions at either their N or C terminus. This approach allowed us to determine the ability of each peptide to productively form Kb/beta2-microglobulin/peptide complexes. We found that H-2Kb molecules can accommodate extended peptides, but only if the extension occurs at the C-terminal peptide end, and that hydrophobic flanking regions are preferred. Peptides extended at their N terminus did not promote productive formation of the trimolecular complex. A structural basis for such findings comes from molecular modeling of a H-2Kb/12 mer complex and comparative analysis of MHC class I structures. These analyses revealed that structural constraints in the A pocket of the class I peptide binding groove hinder the binding of N-terminal-extended peptides, whereas structural features at the C-terminal peptide residue pocket allow C-terminal peptide extensions to reach out of the cleft. These findings broaden our understanding of the inherent peptide binding and epitope selection criteria of the MHC class I molecule. Core peptides extended at their N terminus cannot bind, but peptide extensions at the C terminus are tolerated.

Single amino acid replacements in an antigenic peptide are sufficient to alter the TCR V beta repertoire of the responding CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocyte population.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes are activated upon the engagement of their Ag-specific receptors by MHC class I molecules loaded with peptides 8-11 amino acids long. T cell responses triggered by certain antigenic peptides are restricted to a limited number of TCR V beta elements. The precise role of the peptide in causing this restricted TCR V beta expansion in vivo remains unclear. To address this issue, we immunized C57BL/6 mice with the immunodominant peptide of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and several peptide variants carrying single substitutions at TCR-contact residues. We observed the expansion of a limited set of TCR V beta elements responding to each peptide variant. To focus our analysis solely on the TCR beta-chain, we created a transgenic mouse expressing exclusively the TCR alpha-chain from a VSV peptide-specific CD8+ T cell clone. These mice showed an even more restricted TCR V beta usage consequent to peptide immunization. However, in both C57BL/6 and TCR alpha transgenic mice, single amino acid replacements in TCR-contact residues of the VSV peptide could alter the TCR V beta usage of the responding CD8+ T lymphocytes. These results provide in vivo evidence for an interaction between the antigenic peptide and the germline-encoded complementarity-determining region-beta loops that can influence the selection of the responding TCR repertoire. Furthermore, only replacements at residues near the C terminus of the peptide were able to alter the TCR V beta usage, which is consistent with the notion that the TCR beta-chain interacts in vivo preferentially with this region of the MHC/peptide complex.

Fine specificity and MHC restriction of trinitrophenyl-specific CTL.

In this study, the fine specificity and MHC restriction of a CTL response specific to the trinitrophenyl (TNP) hapten was analyzed. Based on the structure of peptide/Kb complexes and ternary TCR/Ag/MHC complexes, four TNP peptides, two octamers, and two nonamers were chosen for eliciting anti-TNP CTL responses. Hapten was conjugated at position 4 in the octamers and at position 5 in the nonamers, positions which should allow engagement of the hapten by TCRs. Potent CTL activity for each of the TNP peptides was obtained that was highly hapten-specific; however, there were considerable differences in the extent of cross-reactivity with other TNP peptides, with the octamers generating more cross-reactive CTL than the nonamers. MHC restriction analysis suggested that anti-hapten responses were less dependent on MHC recognition than anti-peptide responses. This was evidenced by the relative ease of detecting cross-reactivity to haptenated peptides presented by allo-MHC and by the relative insensitivity of anti-hapten vs anti-peptide CTL to mutations in the Kb molecule at potential TCR interaction sites. One potential explanation for this insensitivity to MHC mutation was the finding that the anti-hapten response appeared to be of higher avidity, since a > 100-fold difference in the amount of Ag required to sensitize target cells was found between these two types of Ags.

Point mutations in the beta chain CDR3 can alter the T cell receptor recognition pattern on an MHC class I/peptide complex over a broad interface area.

To study how the T cell receptor interacts with its cognate ligand, the MHC/peptide complex, we used site directed mutagenesis to generate single point mutants that alter amino acids in the CDR3beta loop of a H-2Kb restricted TCR (N30.7) specific for an immunodominant peptide N52-N59 (VSV8) derived from the vesicular stomatitis virus nucleocapsid. The effect of each mutation on antigen recognition was analyzed using wild type H-2Kb and VSV8 peptide, as well as H-2Kb and VSV8 variants carrying single replacements at residues known to be exposed to the TCR. These analyses revealed that point mutations at some positions in the CDR3beta loop abrogated recognition entirely, while mutations at other CDR3beta positions caused an altered pattern of antigen recognition over a broad area on the MHC/peptide surface. This area included the N-terminus of the peptide, as well as residues of the MHC alpha1 and alpha2 helices flanking this region. Assuming that the N30 TCR docks on the MHC/peptide with an orientation similar to that recently observed in two different TCR-MHC/peptide crystal structures, our findings would suggest that single amino acid alterations within CDR3beta can affect the interaction of the TCR with an MHC surface region distal from the predicted CDR3beta-Kb/VSV8 interface. Such unique recognition capabilities are generated with minimal alterations in the CDR3 loops of the TCR. These observations suggest the hypothesis that extensive changes in the recognition pattern due to small perturbations in the CDR3 structure appears to be a structural strategy for generating a highly diversified TCR repertoire with specificity for a wide variety of antigens.

Alterations in TCR-MHC contacts subsequent to cross-recognition of class I MHC and singly substituted peptide variants.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) elicits H-2Kb-restricted CTLs specific for the immunodominant VSV octapeptide RGYVYQGL. To study the structural features important for interaction between the TCR beta-chain and the peptide/MHC complex, we immunized TCR alpha-chain transgenic mice with the VSV peptide and raised a panel of anti-VSV CTL clones with identical TCR alpha-chains. Consistent with our previous analysis of uncloned populations of primary CTLs, the anti-VSV CTL clones were all Vbeta13+ and expressed TCR beta-chains with highly homologous complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) loops. Although the clones expressed similar TCRs, they differed in their ability to cross-react with VSV peptide variants singly substituted at TCR contact positions 4 and 6. These findings allowed us to identify short stretches of amino acids in the C-terminal region of the CDR3beta loop that, when altered, modify the cross-reaction capability of the TCR to position 4 and position 6 variant peptides. To further probe the structural correlates of biologic cross-reactivity, we used cross-reactive CTL clones and cell lines expressing point mutations in H-2Kb to investigate the effect of single amino acid changes in the peptide on the pattern of recognition of the TCR for the peptide/MHC complex. Single conservative substitutions in the peptide were sufficient to alter the recognition contacts between a cross-reactive TCR and the MHC molecule, supporting the idea that the TCR can make overall structural adjustments in MHC contacts to accommodate single amino acid changes in the peptide.

Major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted T cells are required for all but the end stages of diabetes development in nonobese diabetic mice and use a prevalent T cell receptor alpha chain gene rearrangement.

Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice develop insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus due to autoimmune T lymphocyte-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Although both major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CD8(+) and class II-restricted CD4(+) T cell subsets are required, the specific role each subset plays in the pathogenic process is still unclear. Here we show that class I-dependent T cells are required for all but the terminal stages of autoimmune diabetes development. To characterize the diabetogenic CD8(+) T cells responsible, we isolated and propagated in vitro CD8(+) T cells from the earliest insulitic lesions of NOD mice. They were cytotoxic to NOD islet cells, restricted to H-2Kd, and showed a diverse T cell receptor beta chain repertoire. In contrast, their alpha chain repertoire was more restricted, with a recurrent amino acid sequence motif in the complementarity-determining region 3 loop and a prevalence of Valpha17 family members frequently joined to the Jalpha42 gene segment. These results suggest that a number of the CD8(+) T cells participating in the initial phase of autoimmune beta cell destruction recognize a common structural component of Kd/peptide complexes on pancreatic beta cells, possibly a single peptide.

On defining the rules for interactions between the T cell receptor and its ligand: a critical role for a specific amino acid residue of the T cell receptor beta chain.

The specificity of T cell-mediated immune responses is primarily determined by the interaction between the T cell receptor (TCR) and the antigenic peptide presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. To refine our understanding of interactions between the TCR and the antigenic peptide of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) presented by the class I MHC molecule H-2Kb, we constructed a TCR alpha chain transgenic mouse in a TCR alpha-deficient background to define specific structural features in the TCR beta chain that are important for the recognition of the VSV/H-2Kb complex. We found that for a given peptide, a peptide-specific, highly conserved amino acid could always be identified at position 98 of the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) loop of TCR beta chains. Further, we demonstrated that substitutions at position 6, but not position 1, of the VSV peptide induced compensatory changes in the TCR in both the amino acid residue at position 98 and the length of the CDR3beta loop. We conclude that the amino acid residue at position 98 of the CDR3beta loop is a key residue that plays a critical role in determining the specificity of TCR-VSV/H-2Kb interactions and that a specific length of the CDR3beta loop is required to facilitate such interactions. Further, these findings suggest that the alpha and beta chains of TCRs interact with amino acid residue(s) toward the N and C termini of the VSV peptide, respectively, providing functional evidence for the orientation of a TCR with its peptide/MHC ligand as observed in the crystal structures of TCR/peptide/MHC complexes.