Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P J Travers

Publications and source records attributed to P J Travers.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

V alpha 3.2 selection in MHC class I mutant mice: evidence for an alternate orientation of TCR-MHC class I interaction.

TCR V alpha elements are expressed preferentially in CD4 or CD8 subsets in a manner that is largely independent of MHC haplotype. It is likely that the V alphas interact preferentially with conserved regions of class I or class II molecules. To investigate the topology of binding of TCR to MHC-peptide complexes, we screened a panel of H-2Kbm mutants for differential V alpha expression. One strain, bm23, showed a consistent alteration in V alpha expression, with increased V alpha 3.2 expression in CD8 peripheral T cells. This overselection is manifest in CD8 single-positive thymocytes and appears to be due to enhanced positive selection on Kbm23. There is no apparent effect of V beta elements. The Kbm23 molecule is unique compared with Kb and the other Kbm molecules at residue 75 on the helix of the alpha 1 domain, suggesting an interaction between V alpha 3.2 and the alpha 1 helix at this point. Such an interaction is inconsistent with the orientation of TCR and MHC defined in two crystal structures, but is consistent with an orientation where the TCR is rotated by 180 degrees relative to MHC.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A novel first primary anchor extends the MHC class II I-Ad binding motif to encompass nine amino acids.

The MHC class II molecule I-Ad has been reported to bind peptides containing a motif of six consecutive amino acids. We demonstrate that binding of the murine IgG2ab heavy chain allopeptide gamma 2ab 435-451 (Kabat numbering) to I-Ad is strongly enhanced by a novel first primary anchor (P1) three residues N-terminal to this hexamer. This is based on flow cytometric assessment of the I-Ad binding capacity of gamma 2ab peptide analogues, their antigenicity for I-Ad-restricted T cell clones and molecular modelling. The P1 pocket is broadly specific since allphatic, aromatic, acidic, the basic histidine and small polar side chains all allowed good binding. By contrast, asparagine, arginine and glycine reduced the binding capacity 10-, 16- and > 100-fold respectively. Truncation or glycine substitution at P1 decreased antigenicity by a factor > 1000. Nevertheless, I-Ad-restricted T cells are not completely dependent on this anchor since high concentrations of a peptide with glycine-substituted P1 elicited maximal responses. Additional anchoring side chains are found at P4, P6 and P9. The autologous IgG2aa heavy chain shares prominent epitopic residues with gamma 2ab 435-451 at P3, P5 and P8. However, the lysine of gamma 2aa at P9 impairs binding to I-Ad, which may explain why the gamma 2ab allopeptide-reactive T cells escaped negative selection. The data rationalize our observation (Bartnes, K. and Hannestad, K. 1997. Eur. J. Immunol. 27:1124) that these T cells recognize a syngeneic B cell lymphoma, provided its presentation of intrinsic gamma 2aa is enhanced by surface IgG2aa ligation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

T-cell-receptor affinity and thymocyte positive selection.

Development of thymocytes involves two distinct outcomes resulting from superficially similar events. Recognition by thymocytes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins plus peptides leads to their rescue from apoptosis (positive selection), and recognition of antigenic peptide induces cell death (negative selection). Antigen analogues, and sometimes low concentrations of antigenic peptide, induce positive selection; such analogues are often antagonists of mature T-cell clones. Various models seek to explain how recognition of different peptide/MHC complexes leads to such different outcomes: quantitative models relate response to the affinity, avidity or kinetics of T-cell-antigen receptor (TCR) binding, whereas qualitative models require conformational or spatial changes in the TCR or associated molecules to modulate signal transduction. We have used surface plasmon resonance to measure the kinetics of TCR interactions with positively and negatively selecting ligands to distinguish between these models, and find that affinity correlates to the outcome of selection. A 'window' of affinity resulting in positive selection extends over a 1-log range starting threefold below the affinity for negative selection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Encephalitogenic epitopes of myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein for experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induction in Biozzi ABH (H-2Ag7) mice share an amino acid motif.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) and synthetic MBP peptides were screened for their ability to induce experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Biozzi ABH (H-2Ag7) mice. In contrast to the failure of native MBP to induce experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, the use of overlapping MBP peptides revealed epitopes within MBP 12-26 and MBP 21-35, which induced mild disease. In comparison with disease induced by spinal cord homogenate or peptides of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) or proteolipid protein (PLP), the low incidence indicates that, at least in ABH mice, MBP is a minor encephalitogen. However, the data suggest the presence of a peptide core between MBP 21-26 (HARHGF), which contains similar elements to the previously defined encephalitogenic MOG 1-22 and PLP 56-70 peptides. The fine specificity of these epitopes was further investigated using frame-shifted peptides, which indicated cores between MOG 9-15 (GYPIRAL) and PLP 62-68 (NVIHAFQ). Based on these pathogenic peptides, a putative H-2Ag7 binding motif is suggested that contains a series of hydrophobic, basic, small, and large hydrophobic residues within a 6 to 7 amino acid core. The core and particular importance of these four residues in PLP 56-70 was confirmed in vitro using amino acid substitution studies. These findings support many of the predictions made by computer modeling of peptide:H-2Ag7 interactions. This may have relevance in the design of strategies in the treatment of experimental autoimmune diseases in animals that express this haplotype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Distinct conformations of a peptide bound to HLA-DR1 or DRB5*0101 suggested by molecular modelling.

The conformation of peptides when bound to different HLA class II molecules is of interest in the study of specificity and function of responding T cells. Here, we report the investigation of the HLA-DR binding profiles of an immunodominant and HLA-promiscuous mycobacterial peptide, p38G. Its binding affinities were found to be high for DR1, moderate for DR2, DR7 and DR8, low for DR4, DR5, DR6 and DR9, and below detection for DR3. The minimum peptide length required for binding was, in the majority of cases, nine residues and 11 in two instances (DR2 and DR4). Peptide binding to DR2 was attributed to the DRB5*0101 and not to the DRB1*1501 gene product. Substitution analysis of the amino acid residues involved in binding to DR1 and DRB5*0101 identified F-354 as the common primary contact residue (P1), while allele-specific differences were found in positions P4, P6 and in the C-terminal anchor residue (valine at P9 for DR1 or lysine at P10 for DRB5*0101). Computer-assisted evaluation of these empirical data produced a molecular model, suggesting that the peptide binds to DR1 in an elongated conformation, similar to that of other peptide MHC class II complexes. In contrast, the DRB5*0101 bound peptide is likely to be kinked, which so far was considered characteristic only for peptides within MHC class I complexes. The different conformations imposed on the same peptide by distinct HLA alleles may represent an important mechanism for the control of T cell responses.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Similar antigenic surfaces, rather than sequence homology, dictate T-cell epitope molecular mimicry.

Molecular mimicry, normally defined by the level of primary-sequence similarities between self and foreign antigens, has been considered a key element in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Here we describe an example of molecular mimicry between two overlapping peptides within a single self-antigen, both of which are recognized by the same human self-reactive T-cell clone. Two intervening peptides did not stimulate the T-cell clone, even though they share nine amino acids with the stimulatory peptides. Molecular modeling of major histocompatibility complex class II-peptide complexes suggests that both of the recognized peptides generate similar antigenic surfaces, although these are composed of different sets of amino acids. The molecular modeling of a peptide shifted one residue from the stimulatory peptide, which was recognized in the context of the same HLA molecule by another T-cell clone, generated a completely different antigenic surface. Functional studies using truncated peptides confirmed that the anchor residues of the two "mimicking" epitopes in the HLA groove differ. Our results show, for two natural epitopes, how molecular mimicry can occur and suggest that studies of potential antigenic surfaces, rather than sequence similarity, are necessary for analyzing suspected peptide mimicry.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

A cDNA clone encoding the mouse Qa-1a histocompatibility antigen and proposed structure of the putative peptide binding site.

We have isolated a cDNA clone which encodes the Qa-1a histocompatibility Ag from a library prepared from Con A-activated B10.BR mouse spleen cells. The clone encodes a protein of 322 amino acids with three potential N-glycosylation sites. The coding sequence shows strongest similarity with that of the T23d gene of DBA/2 mice which encodes the Qa-1b molecule. Molecular modeling of the putative peptide-combining site indicates most of the differences between Qa-1a and Qa-1b are located peripheral to the binding cleft, with only two amino acid substitutions, at positions 9 and 24, which might affect peptide binding. Many features of the Qa-1 binding cleft are also conserved in the rat RTBM.1 and in human HLA-E molecules. This suggests that all of these molecules may associate with structurally similar peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Demonstration of placental and placental-like alkaline phosphatase in non-malignant human tissue extracts using monoclonal antibodies in an enzyme immunoassay.

The occurrence and nature of heat-stable placental-type alkaline phosphatase (Pl-ALP) in extracts from a variety of non-malignant human tissues has been investigated using monoclonal antibodies in a sensitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. The presence of Pl-ALP was confirmed in testicular, cervical and lung tissue extracts, and trace amounts were also detected in extracts from mammary and ovarian tissue. Evidence is presented that normal testis contains at least two forms of Pl-ALP, the major component being an L-leucine-inhibitable placental-like enzyme which is not the D-variant of Pl-ALP. These results have a bearing on the occurrence of Pl-ALP and placental-like ALP activity in malignancy.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1982

Lack of expression of HLA-ABC antigens in choriocarcinoma and other human tumor cell lines.

We studied a panel of 21 human tumor and other cell lines, mainly of epithelial origin, for the expression of HLA-ABC antigens by an indirect radiobinding assay using monoclonal antibodies. Four of the lines, 2 choriocarcinomas, a breast tumor cell lin (MDA-MB-157), and a colon carcinoma (LoVo) showed no detectable reaction with the antibodies. The levels of binding in another breast tumor line (SkBr3) and a colon carcinoma line (LS174T) were much reduced. These cell lines plus some of the HLA-ABC positive lines from the panel were studied by immunoprecipitation of 35S-labeled cell extracts. Two mechanisms for alteration of the HLA-ABC antigen levels at the cell surface were apparent. In the choriocarcinomas and one breast tumor line, beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m) was expressed but little or no HLA-A, B, or C polypeptides were synthesized. The other HLA-ABC negative lines had defects similar to that in the previously reported Burkitt's lymphoma cell line DAUDI. In these lines, HLA-ABC polypeptides were produced but did not appear at the cell surface because beta 2m was not synthesized. The absence of HLA-ABC determinants from the cell surface is presumed to afford protection against T-cell immune attack whether naturally as against the trophoblast during pregnancy or in abnormal situations against certain tumors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗