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AUTHOR

Johannes Hampl

DRB1*0401-restricted human T cell clone specific for the major proinsulin73-90 epitope expresses a down-regulatory T helper 2 phenotype.

Recently, we have identified proinsulin (P-Ins) 73-90 as an immunodominant T cell epitope of HLA-DRB1*0401 (DR4) subjects with β-islet cell autoimmunity and of HLA-DR4/CD4 double-transgenic mice immunized with human P-Ins. We have compared the fine specificities of one human CD4 T cell clone and two mouse T cell hybridoma clones recognizing this epitope, and, although these three clones all recognized the same core region (LALEGSLQK), there were major differences in how they interacted with the peptide (p)/HLA complex, reflecting the fact that human P-Ins is a foreign antigen in the mouse and an autoantigen in the type 1 diabetes patient. The human T cell clone was forkhead transcription f…

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Presentation of insulin and insulin A chain peptides to mouse T cells: involvement of cysteine residues.

The requirements for insulin presentation and recognition by A alpha b A beta b- and A alpha b A beta k-restricted mouse T cells were studied using a variety of derivatives of the insulin A chain. It was found that A chain peptides with irreversibly blocked Cys residues are non-stimulatory for the T cells. This suggests that at least one of the Cys residues is essential for recognition. On the other hand, all A chain peptides containing Cys residues modified in a way reversible by reaction with thiols are stimulatory yet differ in antigenic potency. All these A chain derivatives including a 14 amino acid fragment require uptake by antigen presenting cells (APC) for efficient presentation. D…

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Processing without proteolytic cleavage is required for recognition of insulin by T cells.

Beef insulin as well as a chymotryptic A-chain fragment [BI-A1-14(SSO3-)3] need uptake by antigen-presenting cells (APC) for efficient presentation in combination with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules to insulin-specific T cells. This could be shown by the inability of aldehyde-fixed APC to present these antigens to T cells. Furthermore, presentation of the insulin fragment as well as presentation of ovalbumin (OVA) was inhibited by treatment of APC with chloroquine, cerulenin or tunicamycin. This was not the case for a processing-independent OVA peptide. Treatment of APC during antigen pulsing with various protease inhibitors, active on all classes of proteases, did not …

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Processing requirements for the recognition of insulin fragments by murine T cells.

In this study we investigated aspects of antigen processing using insulin and insulin A chain-derived fragments as model antigens in Ab alpha Ak beta-restricted T-cell stimulation. Similarly to other proteins, the immunodominant region of insulin recognized by these T cells is limited in size. It is located on the insulin A chain and encompasses a portion of the molecule that is represented faithfully by peptide A1-14(SSO3-)3. Efficient presentation of intact insulin and its entire A chain is dependent on uptake and processing by APC. Whereas peptides stemming from various globular proteins are known to be presented to T cells by APC without requiring processing, this is not the case with A…

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Requirements of Exogenous Protein Antigens for Presentation to CD4+ T lymphocytes By MHC Class II-Positive APC

The antigen-specific activation of CD4-positive T helper cells depends on the recognition of a complex of MHC class II molecules and an antigen-derived peptide on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APC). For most antigens generation of this MHC/peptide complex requires the uptake of the respective antigen by APC, followed by intracellular processing. The latter leads to suitable peptides of the antigen which are able to bind to MHC class ll-molecules. Subsequently the resulting complexes are transported to the cell surface. Evidence supporting this concept came mainly from the finding that agents such as chloroquine1, interfering with the function of endosomes and lysosomes, can block…

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