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Helper peptide G89 (HER-2:777-789) and G89-activated cells regulate the survival of effectors induced by the CTL epitope E75 (HER-2, 369-377). Correlation with the IFN-gamma: IL-10 balance.

The CTL response to Ag expands after priming and subsequently contracts reducing the number of effectors. CD4+ cells are described as regulators of CTL immunity. To elucidate whether CD4+ cells are involved in survival of effector CTL and the survival signals, we used CTL and Th peptides form the HER-2 protooncogene recognized in association with HL-A2 and HLA-DR4, respectively. We analyzed the effect of cells stimulated with G89 (777-789) in survival and expression of lytic function of CTL specific for the epitope E75 (369-377). G89 primed cells (G89-PR) and G89 enhanced expansion and Ag-specific cytolyis of CTL at priming with E75, but inhibited survival of E75-specific CTL at restimulation. These effects were not simply a reflection of the increases in IFN-gamma and IL-10, but the ratio IFN-gamma/lL-10 modified by G89 differentially regulated the survival of stimulated cells. This suggests that the use of helper antigens in cancer vaccines should be evaluated in the context of their CTL survival inducing effect.

CD40 Antigens↗

The persistence of CTL memory.

A very important question in immunology is to determine which factors decide whether an immune response can efficiently clear or control a viral infection, and under what circumstances we observe persistent viral replication and pathology. This paper summarises how mathematical models help us gain new insights into these questions, and explores the relationship between anti-viral therapy and long-term immunological control in HIV infection. Particular focus is given to the phenomenon of CTL memory, which I define as long-term antigen-independent persistence of CTLp. Contrary to traditional thinking, theory suggests that antigen-independent persistence of memory CTL is required to clear the primary infection, because this ensures stable and sustained immunological pressure while virus load declines. In the presence of a sustained memory response theory suggests that the CTL population is broad, directed against multiple epitopes. On the other hand, if memory CTL are not sustained in the absence of or at low levels of antigen, then the virus can establish a persistent infection. In this case, the model suggests that the CTL response is narrow, characterised by only one or a few immunodominant CTL clones. Mathematical models and experimental data suggest that HIV persistence and pathology is caused by the absence of a sustained CTL memory response, caused by the impairment of CD4 T-cell help. We show how mathematical models can help us devise therapy regimes that can restore CTL memory in HIV-infected patients and result in long-term immunological control of the virus in the absence of lifelong treatment.

HIV Infections↗

Anti-idiotypic antibodies against UV-induced tumor-specific CTL clones. Preparation in syngeneic combination.

In this study, we first established several CTL clones of (BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1 origin that were specific for either syngeneic UV female 1 or UV male 1 fibrosarcoma cell lines. All the CTL clones had Thy-1+ Lyt-2+ L3T4- phenotypes and showed Kd restriction when lysing the corresponding target cells. Sera obtained from syngeneic animals immunized with three CTL clones, 10B-5 for UV female 1, and CTL9 and CTL10 for UV male 1, showed specific inhibition of target cell lysis with the corresponding CTL clones. The inhibitory activities were found in sera of the majority of immunized animals. Because the inhibitory activity resides in protein A-binding fraction, mAb were produced by hybridizing spleen cells of hyperimmune animals. N1-56 was thus obtained from a mouse immunized with 10B-5 CTL clone reactive with UV female 1. N1-56 was clonotype specific, reacting with 10B-5 but not with other CTL lines or leukemia cell lines. No N1-56+ cells were detectable in thymocytes, lymph node cells, or spleen cells of either naive or UV female 1-immune CB6F1 mice. Immunoprecipitation showed that N1-56 reacts with 90,000 Mr molecules on 10B-5 CTL clone under nonreducing conditions and 45,000 Mr molecules under reducing conditions, indicating its reactivities with idiotypic determinants of TCR on the CTL clone. N1-56 inhibited lytic activity of 10B-5, but neither N1-56 nor alpha-10B-5 hyperimmune serum inhibited that of alpha-UV female 1 mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture cells. N1-56 induced proliferation of 10B-5 without addition of Ag.

Animals↗

The requirements for triggering of lysis by cytolytic T lymphocyte clones. II. Cyclosporin A inhibits TCR-mediated exocytosis by only selectively inhibits TCR-mediated lytic activity by cloned CTL.

TCR-mediated granule exocytosis, as measured by the release of serine esterase activity, has been implicated in the lytic process of Ag-specific CTL. Exocytosis appears to be the mechanism of release of other lysis-relevant molecules including cytotoxic lymphokines and proteins that have the capacity to induce membrane lesions as measured by the hemolysis of non-nucleated SRBC. In the studies presented here, we assessed the contribution of exocytosis and lymphokine production in CTL lysis of nucleated and non-nucleated target cells by using a panel of murine CTL clones. Ag-mediated activation of cytolysis, lymphokine production, and exocytosis could be mimicked by mAb against the TCR/CD3 complex, or by stimulation with the combination of PMA + calcium ionophore, which appear to bypass the TCR (neither PMA nor calcium ionophore alone induced these functions efficiently in our CD8+ CTL clones). Although lysis, IFN-gamma production and exocytosis of N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysin esterase (BLTE) activity were induced by either stimulus, we were able to identify distinct activation requirements for each of these functions. We found that lymphokine production, exocytosis, and cytolysis could be selectively inhibited. Cycloheximide inhibited IFN-gamma production, but did not inhibit exocytosis of BLTE activity or cytolysis. In addition we showed that cyclosporine A (CsA) profoundly inhibited IFN-gamma production as well as exocytosis induced by stimulation through the Ag receptor or by PMA + calcium ionophore. In contrast, CsA had little or no effect on lysis of nucleated target cells that bear the relevant Ag. These findings indicate that our CTL clones can lyse target cells by a mechanism independent of exocytosis or (de novo) lymphokine production. To directly assess the capacity of our CTL clones to lyse target cells without inducing nuclear damage we developed a system of coating non-nucleated SRBC with anti-CD3 mAb for use as stimuli and as targets for lysis. We found that our cloned CTL were indeed activated to produce IFN-gamma by SRBC that were coated with anti-CD3 mAb, and, furthermore, they were able to lyse the SRBC in a short term cytolytic assay. Thus our CD8+ CTL are capable of lysing certain target cells by a mechanism independent of DNA degradation, presumably by inducing a membrane lesion. In addition, CsA did inhibit lysis of the non-nucleated SRBC targets as well as exocytosis of BLTE activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

T3 monoclonal antibody activation of nonspecific cytolysis: a mechanism of CTL inhibition.

The T3 antigen is expressed on all cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to the T3 antigen previously have been shown to inhibit CTL-mediated killing of cells expressing the relevant target antigens. The mechanism of T3 MAb inhibition, however, remains undefined. In this report, we describe a novel effect of the T3 MAb: the stimulation of allospecific CTL clones to kill target cells that do not express the relevant HLA antigens. The stimulation of nonspecific killing was seen only with MAb to the T3 antigen; MAb to other function-associated antigens (e.g., LFA-1, LFA-2, LFA-3, T4, T8, HLA-A,B,C, and DR) had no effect. T3 MAb stimulated nonspecific killing by CTL clones expressing both the T4+ and T8+ phenotype and by CTL clones specific for both class I and class II HLA alloantigens. Target cell susceptibility to T3 MAb stimulated killing was variable. CTL clones lysed some target cell lines very efficiently (e.g., K562, Daudi, and M124.1) but lysed other cell lines much less efficiently (e.g., 23.1, Mann, and L cells). In CTL-mediated cytotoxicity assays with target cells expressing the relevant HLA antigens, T3 MAb demonstrated the expected inhibition of cytolysis. Thus, the ability of T3 MAb to stimulate and inhibit CTL-mediated cytolysis suggests that both effects may be the result of a common mechanism of activation.

Animals↗

Ontogeny of cell-mediated cytotoxicity: induction of CTL in early postnatal thymocytes.

In this study we characterized the time when cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can be induced in the thymus and spleen from their immediate CTL precursors (CTL-P). In contrast to fetal or newborn thymus, the thymus of 1 to 2-day-old C57BL/6 mice contained cells that, after cultivation in vitro with allogeneic DBA/2 stimulating cells, exhibited high levels (as great or greater than that induced in adult thymocytes) of CTL activity as measured by the ability to lyse P815 (DBA/2) tumor target cells. However, CTL activity induced in spleen cells remained how during the first 5 days of life, increased sharply between 6 to 9 days, and reached adult levels at 11 to 20 days. Furthermore, early postnatal spleen cells did not suppress the adult splenic CTL response. These results suggest 1) that the full potential to generate CTL in response to an allogeneic stimulus commences in the thymus on the first day after birth and 2) a different temporal appearance of immediate CTL precursors in the thymus and spleen.

Aging↗

Pretreatment with minor histocompatibility antigens prevents the development of functional CTL helper cell activity.

We have been studying the regulation of allogeneic cytotoxic cells (CTL) in vivo. CBA/J (H-2k, mls d) responder mice are unable to develop CTL after an allogeneic footpad immunization if they are pretreated i.p. with spleen cells from either C3H/HeN (H-2k, mls c) or B10.BR (H-2k, mls b) mice. These mouse strain combinations are H-2 compatible but differ at the Mls and other minor histocompatibility loci. We reported that this state of CTL unresponsiveness is specific and that the allogeneic cells used for footpad immunization and the pretreatment strain must share both minor antigens and part of the MHC. In this paper, we describe some of the characteristic features of this CTL unresponsiveness. The CBA host plays an active role and appears to down-regulate its subsequent response against minor antigens after the initial pretreatment. This statement is based on the following: 1) The inhibition of in vivo CTL generation can be achieved by injecting F1 or irradiated C3H cells, i.e., under conditions where GVHD was not a factor; and 2) the state of unresponsiveness is abolished by host treatment with cyclophosphamide. In addition, we demonstrate that the lack of CTL development in pretreated responder animals is the result of impaired helper cell activity. Draining LNC from unresponsive mice can become functionally cytolytic if cultured in a Con A-activated spleen cell supernatant. However, normal CTL responses were not restored after adult thymectomy or splenectomy. Thus, the state of CTL inhibition that is induced by the minor antigen pretreatment is the result of a host-mediated regulatory circuit.

Animals↗

Absorption of normal lymphocytes on allogeneic spleen monolayers: depletion of alloreactivity is due to inhibition of CTL induction by released monolayer cells.

A technique for the haplotype-specific depletion of precursors of alloreactive cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL-P) by absorption of unprimed spleen cells on allogeneic lymphocyte monolayers has been examined. When H-2d spleen cells were incubated on monolayers of H-2b spleen cells and the nonadherent cells were cultured in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC), CTL activity generated against the monolayer haplotype was 30- to 1000-fold lower than the equivalent cultures of unabsorbed H-2d cells. Cytolytic reactvity to a 3rd-party haplotype, H-2k, was reduced no more than 6-fold. However, culture of the same cells at limiting dilution indicated that the frequency of CTL-P against the monolayer haplotype in monolayer-nonadherent H-2d populations was not significantly different from the frequency in normal H-2d spleen. It was noted that MLC of monolayer-nonadherent H-2d populations were highly cytolytic for H-2d target cells. This reaction was reduced and the ability to generate anti-H-2b CTL was restored when the nonadherent cells were treated with anti-H-2b antibody and complement to eliminate contaminating monolayer cells released during absorption, and when monolayers were prepared from spleen cells depleted of Lyt 2-bearing cells (and hence CTL-P). These data suggested that the reduction in anti-H-2b reactivity of monolayer-nonadherent cells in MLC was due to inhibition by the competing anti-H-2d reaction of contaminating, monolayer-derived CTL-P. Although fluorescent labeling of monolayer cells indicated that these cells represented only 10% of the nonadherent population, flow cytometry and further limiting dilution analysis demonstrated that cells that detached from H-2b monolayers during absorption were enriched 2-fold in T lymphocytes and CTL-P over normal spleen. The strength of the anti-H-2d reaction by a minority of monolayer cells can thus be attributed both to the higher frequency of H-2b anti-H-2d than H-2d anti-H-2b CTL-P in spleen populations and to the preferential detachment of monolayer T lymphocytes during absorption.

Absorption↗

Antigen recognition by CTL is dependent upon ectoATPase activity.

Alloantigen-specific and OVA-specific CD8+ CTL were shown here to express an ectoATPase. These CTL also express an ectoADPase, but do not express detectable levels of an ectoAMPase. CD8+ CTL transported adenosine into their cytoplasm at a rate of 2.3 x 10(-11) mmol/min/10(5) cells. In contrast, adenosine uptake was 34-fold lower when ATP was used as the source of the nucleoside. This was consistent with the lack of ectoAMPase and suggests that the role of ectoATPase is not in the salvage of extracellular nucleotides. 5'-p-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl adenosine (5'-FSBA) is an ATP analogue affinity label that irreversibly inhibits CTL ectoATPase. Cells made ectoATPase activity deficient by modification with 5'-FSBA were not susceptible to potential lytic effects of extracellular ATP with less than 20% specific lysis at 20 mM of exogenous ATP. However, cells modified by 5'-FSBA were unable to kill their respective target cells. Complete inhibition of cell-mediated killing was observed with 1 mM 5'-FSBA. CTL modified by 5'-FSBA also failed to secrete TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma after activation by the appropriate Ag. Killing was also inhibited by 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate (a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue), but not by ATP, ADP, alpha, beta-methylene ADP (a nonhydrolyzable ADP analogue), AMP, or adenosine. Blockage of CTL activity by 5'-FSBA was not reversed by addition of ADP, suggesting that hydrolysis of ATP is an essential ectoATPase-mediated signal for CTL activation. These results suggest that ectoATPase is essential for Ag recognition and/or effector activities of CTL.

Adenosine↗

Sequence constraints and recognition by CTL of an HLA-B27-restricted HIV-1 gag epitope.

Previous studies on the variation of an immunodominant HLA-B27-restricted HIV-1 gag p24 epitope (KRWIIL GLNK, amino acids 263-272) have demonstrated the persistence of variants recognized by CTL. Sequence comparisons of HIV isolates showed that this region is relatively conserved and as a consequence might restrict antigenic variation. To evaluate the possibility of HIV-1 to yield infectious mutants of this epitope that lack the ability to bind to HLA-B27 or escape HLA-B27-restricted CTL recognition, single-point mutations were constructed in the infectious molecular clone of HIV-1 Lai. Changes of arginine 264, the anchor amino acid for HLA-B27, to lysine or glycine resulted in infectious HIV-1 variants. The respective synthetic peptides showed reduced ability to sensitize target cells for CTL recognition and a corresponding loss of binding affinity to HLA-B27. In contrast, mutation of glycine 269 to lysine or glutamate abrogated HIV-1 infectivity. The corresponding peptides were able to bind to HLA-B27 but were not recognized by CTL. These data show that HIV-1 tolerates some genetic variation of the HLA-B27-restricted CTL epitope in gag p24 and that single-point mutations can alter quantitatively the immunologic properties. Further, it demonstrates that the mere nonrecognition of peptides derived from quasispecies analysis of small regions might simply correspond to nonviable virus variants and cannot be taken as evidence for CTL escape mutants. Together with the previously published data on the persistence of CTL epitopes, these results suggest that CTL do not play a major role in driving HIV-1 evolution in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Env-specific CTL predominate in cats protected from feline immunodeficiency virus infection by vaccination.

Animal models of HIV-1 have a key role to play in elucidation of the cellular mechanisms responsible for protective immunity. Vaccination of domestic cats with whole inactivated feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) elicits virus-neutralizing Abs and virus-specific CTL in the peripheral blood and lymphoid organs and affords protection from homologous virus challenge. In the present study we confirm the induction of virus-specific CTL following immunization with whole inactivated FIV vaccine and demonstrate that cats are protected for up to 1 yr following vaccination. Long term protection in vaccinated cats correlates with both higher levels of FIV Env-specific CTL in the peripheral blood following vaccination and the presence of FIV Env-specific memory CD8+ CTL in the lymph nodes, which persist for up to 1 yr following challenge in the absence of detectable virus. The CTL responses observed in vaccinated protected cats differ qualitatively from those in FIV-infected cats. The latter cats either do not generate a memory CTL response or exhibit a Gag-specific memory CTL response. These results show that the protective immunity observed in whole inactivated virus-vaccinated cats is associated with the induction of high levels of Env-specific CTL activity.

Animals↗

Intranasal immunization with CTL epitope peptides from HIV-1 or ovalbumin and the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin induces peptide-specific CTLs and protection against tumor development in vivo.

To evaluate the ability of mucosal immunization protocols using peptide immunogens to induce CTL responses, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were immunized intranasally (i.n.) with peptides corresponding to a known CTL epitope in HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 or OVA, respectively, and the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin (CT). Intranasal immunization of BALB/c mice with a 10- or 15-amino acid peptide corresponding to a CTL determinant in HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 and CT induced peptide-specific CTLs in spleen cells that persisted through 35 days after the last immunization. Intranasal immunization of C57BL/6 mice with the octameric OVA peptide and CT produced similar results with detectable peptide-specific CTL in both the cervical lymph node and spleen. To test whether CTL induced by i.n. immunization with OVA peptide and CT were functional in vivo, groups of C57BL/6 mice were injected with E.G7-OVA tumor cells that express the OVA protein and monitored for tumor growth. Animals immunized i.n. with OVA and CT were protected against tumor development as efficiently as animals immunized by the potent CTL induction protocol of i.v. injection with OVA-pulsed dendritic cells. Intranasal immunization with peptides corresponding to known CTL epitopes and CT provides a noninvasive route of immunization for the induction of CTL responses in vivo.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Degenerate MHC restriction reveals the contribution of class I MHC molecules in determining the fine specificity of CTL recognition of an immunodominant determinant of HIV-1 gp160 V3 loop.

The novel allogeneic presentation of an immunodominant determinant within the HIV-1 gp160 V3 loop by three different class I MHC molecules to the same CD8+ CTL is used to study the influence of the MHC molecule on the fine specificity of CTL recognition. We previously reported that four distinct class I molecules of H-2d,u,p,q presented the V3 decapeptide P18-I10 (RGPGRAFVTI) to CTL. Surprisingly, we found that H-2d,u,p cells mutually cross-present the P18-I10 peptide to allogeneic CTL clones of each of the other haplotypes, whereas none of these cross-presents to H-2q CTL, nor do H-2q targets present to CTL of the other haplotypes. Here, we explore the critical amino acid residues for the cross-presentation using 10 variant peptides with single amino acid substitutions. The fine specificity examined using these mutant peptides presented by the same MHC class I molecule showed striking similarity among the CTL of each haplotype, expressing either V beta 8.1 or V beta 14. In contrast, the fine specificity is different between the distinct MHC class I molecules even for the lysis by the same CTL, as shown by reciprocal effects of the same substitutions. Thus, peptide fine specificity of a single TCR is influenced by changes in the class I MHC molecules presenting the Ag.

Animals↗

Resistance to polyoma virus-induced tumors correlates with CTL recognition of an immunodominant H-2Dk-restricted epitope in the middle T protein.

The natural mouse pathogen polyoma virus is highly oncogenic in H-2k mice carrying the endogenous superantigen encoded by the mouse mammary tumor provirus Mtv-7. This superantigen results in deletion of Vbeta6 TCR-expressing polyoma-specific CD8+ CTL, which appear to be critical effectors against polyoma tumorigenesis. Here we have isolated cloned lines of CD8+ T cells from resistant (i.e., Mtv-7-) H-2k mice that specifically lyse syngeneic polyoma virus-infected cells and polyoma tumor cells. Nearly all these CTL clones express Vbeta6 and are restricted in their recognition of virus-infected cells by H-2Dk. Screening a panel of synthetic peptides predicted to bind to Dk, for which no consensus peptide binding motif is known, we identified a peptide corresponding to a nine-amino acid sequence in the carboxyl-terminus of the middle T (MT) protein (amino acids 389-397) that was recognized by all the Vbeta6+ CD8+ CTL clones. The inability of MT(389-397)-reactive CTL to recognize cells infected with a mutant polyoma virus encoding a MT truncated just proximal to this sequence indicates that MT(389-397) is a naturally processed peptide. The frequencies of precursor CTL specific for polyoma virus and MT(389-397) peptide were similar, indicating that MT(389-397) is the immunodominant epitope in H-2k mice. In addition, polyoma-infected resistant mice possess a 10- to 20-fold higher MT(389-397)-specific precursor CTL frequency than susceptible mice. This highly focused CTL response to polyoma virus provides a valuable animal model to investigate the in vivo activity of CTL against virus-induced neoplasia.

Animals↗

Affinity, specificity and T-cell-receptor diversity of melanoma-specific CTL generated in vitro against a single tyrosinase epitope.

MHC-class-I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for tumor-associated antigens expressed by malignant cells are important components of the immune response against cancer. Recently, tumor-specific CTL could be generated in vitro, with responding lymphocytes from the blood of healthy blood donors. In the present study, we confirm that peptide-specific stimulation in vitro can induce high-affinity CTL capable of recognizing tumor cells expressing the appropriate tumor antigen. These tyrosinase-specific CTL display a restricted usage of TCRAV and TCRBV gene segments but of diverse CDR3 regions, resulting in a distinct fine-specificity for each CTL clone. This suggests that, similar to in vivo priming, peptide-pulsed APC are capable of stimulating a T-cell response in vitro expressing a limited TCR repertoire against autologous tumors. The generated CTL can recognize their target structure with high affinity, and this correlates in part with tumor-cell lysis. This methodology may be used to treat melanoma patients with infusion of ex vivo-induced and -expanded CTL.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Short peptides sensitize target cells to CTL specific for the MHC class Ib molecule, H2-M3.

The MHC class Ib molecule H2-M3 presents N-formylated peptides from the N terminus of proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome to CTL. A panel of CTL specific for a peptide derived from a mitochondrial protein, either COI or ND1, was used to determine the optimal peptide length for sensitizing antigen-deficient target cells. All long-term CTL lines and most CTL clones lysed target cells sensitized with either a COI hexamer or an ND1 heptamer. Only 3 out of 12 anti-ND1 clones preferred an octamer or nonamer peptide and no CTL required to longer peptides. The CTL preference for short peptides matches a shortened groove in M3. The CTL all lysed lymphoblasts encoding the appropriate mitochondrial antigen, suggesting that these target cells express naturally processed, endogenous, formylated peptides, ranging from six to nine amino acids in length.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Immunodomination results from functional differences between competing CTL.

The presence of dominant epitopes suppresses generation of CTL activity toward other non-dominant epitopes found on the same antigen-presenting cell (APC). This phenomenon, termed immunodomination, drastically restricts the diversity of the repertoire of CTL responses. Under various experimental conditions we assessed the in vivo expansion by tetramer staining and function by expression of O-glycans and intracellular perforin of CTL specific for a dominant (B6(dom1)) and a non-dominant (HY) H2D(b)-restricted epitope. Immunodomination abrogated expansion rather than differentiation of HY-specific CTL. When immunodomination was precluded because HY was presented alone or because high numbers of antigen-bearing APC were present, the numbers of HY-specific T cells detected after antigen priming were similar to those of B6(dom1)-specific T cells. The main difference between T cells that recognized B6(dom1) versus HY was functional rather than quantitative. The key feature of T cells specific for B6(dom1) is that they show striking up-regulation of molecules involved in CTL effector activity rather than accumulating to particularly high levels, as assessed by tetramer staining. These results support the emerging concept that following antigen priming, CTL populations of similar size can display important differences in effector function, and suggest that these functional differences are instrumental in shaping the repertoire of CTL responses.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Presentation of a horse cytochrome c peptide by multiple H-2b class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules to C57BL/6- and bm1-derived cytotoxic T lymphocytes: presence of a single MHC anchor residue may confer efficient peptide-specific CTL recognition.

In this study the immunogenic tryptic fragment from a horse cytochrome c (cyt c) digest recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) induced by in vitro peptide stimulation from C57BL/6 (B6) and mutant B6.C-H-2bm1 (bm1) mice is identified. An identical sequence, p40-53, is recognized by CTL from both B6 and bm1 mice. In addition, both B6 bm1 cloned CTL lines display unusual major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted recognition of this peptide in that they respond to it in the context of H-2Kb, H-2Db, and H-2Kbm1 class I molecules, although the sequence lacks the usual structural Kb and Db peptide-binding motifs. Truncated analogues which resemble the lengths of naturally processed MHC class I-presented peptides, confer reactivity for B6 and bm1 CTL against EL4 (H-2b) targets as well as the L cell transfectants, L+Kb, L+Db, and L+Kbm1. The antigenic peptide with the greatest potency is p41-49, which appears to be generated by angiotensin converting enzyme cleavage of the full-length p40-53 tryptic peptide. The minimum antigenic peptide recognized by both B6 and bm1 CTL, and which targets lysis on each of the transfectants, is the hexamer p43-48 peptide from horse cyt c. Residues Pro44 and Thr47, which occupy polymorphic positions with respect to other species-variant cyt c molecules, influence recognition of these peptides differently for the B6 and bm1 CTL. The ability of H-2Kb, H-2Db, and mutant H-2Kbm1 class I molecules to present the same peptide to a single cloned CTL is discussed in the context of current knowledge of peptide anchor residues and side chain-specific binding pockets in the MHC class I peptide-binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗