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T cell immunity or tolerance as a consequence of self antigen presentation
Author(s) -
Lin Rong Hwa,
Stockinger Brigitta
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.1830190117
Subject(s) - biology , antigen , immunology , context (archaeology) , t cell , immunity , immunization , antigen presentation , antigen presenting cell , immune tolerance , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , paleontology
Abstract In this study we investigated the basis for immunity or tolerance to a mouse serum protein, the fifth component of complement (C5). In C5‐deficient mice this protein is absent from serum and therefore they are not tolerized. Immunization of C5‐deficient mice with C5‐sufficient serum generates CD4 T cells, which recognize C5 presented in the context of class II. No C5‐specific responses were observed in T cells from C5‐sufficient mice. We show that this self protein is processed and presented with class II by cells from C5‐sufficient tolerant mice and can be recognized by C5‐specific T cell clones and hybrids in the absence of exogenously added antigen. The stimulation of C5‐specific T cells by C5‐sufficient antigen‐presenting cells is not a consequence of C5 secretion and subsequent processing in vitro but rather employs C5 peptide/class II complexes generated in vivo. We conclude that this self antigen is presented in normal mice in a form recognizable by T cells to induce and maintain immunological tolerance.