Abstract
Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with AChR provokes symptoms similar to those seen in the disease myasthenia gravis. To elucidate the structural requirements for T cell recognition of AChR and to identify TcR features which might provide targets for immunotherapy, a panel of T cell hybridomas was generated after immunization of mice with the immunodominant peptide of the AChR α chain. The TcR genes expressed by these hybridomas were sequenced. TcR-Vβ6 was preferentially employed, but other Vβ genes were also observed. A conserved acidic residue was present in all CDR3 regions, regardless of the Vβ. The TcR-Vα repertoire was somewhat skewed with three Vα families accounting for 82% of the sequences. The utilization of multiple T cell receptor Vβ genes may contribute to the inability to inhibit EAMG by elimination of Vβ6+ T cells.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 87-95 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 71 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1996 |
Keywords
- Myasthenia gravis
- T cell antigen receptor
- acetylcholine receptor
- immune repertoire
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology