The relationship of MHC-peptide binding and T cell activation probed using chemically defined MHC class II oligomers.

摘要: A series of novel chemically defined soluble oligomers the human MHC class II protein HLA-DR1 was constructed to probe molecular requirements for initiation T cell activation. dimers, trimers, and tetramers stimulated cells, as measured by upregulation activation markers CD69 CD25, internalization activated receptor subunits. Monomeric MHC-peptide complexes engaged receptors but did not induce For a given amount engagement, extent equivalent each correlated with number cross-links induced. These results suggest that formation or rearrangement dimer is necessary sufficient signaling.