Science, Vol.268, No.5207, 106-111, 1995
Antigen-Specific Development of Primary and Memory T-Cells in-Vivo
The expansion and contraction of specific helper T cells in the draining lymph nodes of normal mice after injection with antigen was followed. T cell receptors from purified primary and memory responder cells had highly restricted junctional regions, indicating antigen-driven selection. Selection for homogeneity in the length of the third complementarity-determining region (CDR3) occurs before selection for some of the characteristic amino acids, indicating the importance of this parameter in T cell receptor recognition. Ultimately, particular T cell receptor sequences come to predominate in the secondary response and others disappear, showing the selective presentation or expansion of specific T cell clones.
Keywords:MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX;POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION;PRIMARY IMMUNE-RESPONSE;B-CELLS;FINE SPECIFICITY;CELLULAR BASIS;CYTOCHROME-C;RECEPTOR;RECOGNITION;INVIVO