HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mikszta, J. A. Articles by McHeyzer-Williams, M. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mikszta, J. A. Articles by McHeyzer-Williams, M. G.

Antigen-Driven Selection of TCR In Vivo: Related TCR -Chains Pair with Diverse TCR ß-Chains¹

Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710

Ag-driven selection mediates effective T cell help and the development of Th cell memory in vivo. To analyze the dynamics of interclonal competition during the selection process in vivo, we use the I-E^k-restricted murine response to pigeon cytochrome c (PCC). The dominant PCC-specific clonotype expresses V11Vß3 V regions with preferred sequence features in the third hypervariable regions (CDR3). In the current study we define and quantitatively monitor four subdominant PCC-specific clonotypes that express V11 paired with non-Vß3 TCR ß-chains (Vß6, Vß8.1/8.2, Vß8.3, and Vß14). The subdominant clonotypes emerge with similar dynamics to the dominant clonotype and together amount to similar numbers as the dominant clonotype in vivo. These subdominant clonotypes do not efficiently enter germinal centers, although they enter the memory compartment and rapidly re-emerge upon secondary challenge. Analysis of CDR3 diversity in the TCR -chains identifies many preferred sequence features expressed by the dominant clonotype. These studies quantitatively demonstrate selection for diverse Th cells in vivo and highlight TCR -chain dominance in Ag-driven selection for best fit.