Abstract
Influenza nucleoprotein (NP) is an important target antigen for influenza A virus cross-reactive cytotoxic T cells (Tc). Here we examine the NP epitope recognized by cloned and polyclonal BALB/c Tc and the genetics of this recognition pattern. We can define NP residues 147–161 as the epitope seen in conjunction with K d, the only H-2d class I responder allele for NP restriction. H-2 d /H-2 bF1 mice (C57BL × DBA/2) primed by influenza infection lyse only H-2d target cells treated with peptide 147–161 while H-2b targets are recognized only after treatment with NP residues 365–379 (previously found to be recognized by Db restricted Tc cells). Tc cell recognition of NP peptide 147–161 is entirely dictated by expression of K dand not by other B10 or OH background genes of congenic mice. Restriction of a unique NP sequence by each responder class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele suggests that antigen and class I MHC interact for Tc recognition.
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Taylor, P.M., Davey, J., Howland, K. et al. Class I MHC molecules rather than other mouse genes dictate influenza epitope recognition by cytotoxic T cells. Immunogenetics 26, 267–272 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346521
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346521