We have described an experimental model in which variant peptides are introduced in fetal thymic organ culture to determine whether they have the ability to promote differentiation of T cells of a defined specificity. Identification of a family of such peptides opens the possibility of directly addressing the relationship between MHC- associated peptides that select a mature T cell in the thymus and the particular foreign peptide that induces activation of this same T cell in the periphery. One widely discussed model suggests that reduced affinity of interaction between T cell receptor and an MHC:self-peptide complex could result in positive rather than negative selection in the thymus. In collaboration with David Margulies (Laboratory of Immunology, NIAID, NIH), we will exploit recent advances in the ability to engineer T cell receptor cDNA to facilitate isolation of soluble receptor molecules. We will then determine the relative affinity and kinetics of binding of purified TCR for complexes of soluble H-2Kb with either unmodified ligands or with the structurally related peptide analogs that were employed to positively select mature T cells that express this TCR.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AG008179-06A2
Application #
2050086
Study Section
Immunobiology Study Section (IMB)
Project Start
1993-09-01
Project End
1998-06-30
Budget Start
1995-07-10
Budget End
1996-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Rochester
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
208469486
City
Rochester
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14627
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Westbay, T D; Dascher, C C; Hsia, R C et al. (1995) Deviation of immune response to Chlamydia psittaci outer membrane protein in lipopolysaccharide-hyporesponsive mice. Infect Immun 63:1391-3
Westbay, T D; Dascher, C C; Hsia, R C et al. (1994) Dissociation of immune determinants of outer membrane proteins of Chlamydia psittaci strain guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis. Infect Immun 62:5614-23
Burstyn, D; Zauderer, M (1989) Requirements for stimulation of autoreactive T cells by thymic stroma. J Immunol 143:1422-5