Analysis of the T Cell Recognition System Using (T,G)-A--L Specific Helper T Cell Lines

Abstract

The nature and cellular expression of immune response (Ir) genes have been the subject of extensive studies for more than a decade. One of the antigens which was widely used in studies aimed at the elucidation of the function and expression of Ir genes is the synthetic polypeptide poly(Tyr,Glu)-poly(DLAla)--poly(Lys), abbreviated as (T,G)- A--L (1–3). Using this antigen and closely related synthetic polypeptides, determinant specific genetic regulation was demonstrated (4,5), and it has been shown that Ir genes may be expressed on different cell types depending on the antigenic system and on the genetic constitution of the mouse strain studied (6–9). However, since different cell types are involved in the immune response, and as the biological systems used are complicated, different interpretations were often suggested for the same set of results, and thus the issue of the mode of regulation exerted by Ir genes has not been finally resolved yet. It is likely that the elucidation of the receptors of cells involved in the immune response will help in the understanding of the role and expression of Ir genes on these cells.