ABSTRACT
During the process of MHC class II assembly, the class II-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP) remains bound within the peptide binding groove until its subsequent removal, which is mediated by H-2 M. We have defined the functional role of CLIP, through saturation of the endosomal compartment with exogenous CLIP-(85-101), resulting in reduced class II MHC on the surface of APCs and an impeded T cell response. Conversely, incubation of the same cells with immunogenic peptides or proteins resulted in an up-regulation of surface class II MHC. T cells from CLIP- plus Ag-immunized mice showed a marked decrease in Ag-specific response over that in mice primed with Ag alone. A B cell hybridoma, TA3 (H-2d,k) incubated with CLIP in vitro showed dramatically reduced MHC class II I-A surface expression. APCs derived from CLIP-immunized mice exhibited down-regulation of surface class II MHC, but not of CD45 (B220). Electrophoretic studies showed that the addition of exogenous CLIP resulted in a relative decrease in SDS-stable MHC class II heterodimers in TA3 cells. Studies with FITC-CLIP and FITC-OVA-(323-339) peptides demonstrated that exogenously added CLIP peptide does not bind to surface class II molecules via the endogenous route, whereas OVA peptide does. This suggests that exogenously added CLIP acts intracellularly, perhaps in the compartment where H-2 M intersects with class II molecules. These findings demonstrate the functional role of CLIP to regulate MHC class II-mediated Ag presentation in CD4+ T cell responses.
Subject(s)
Antigen Presentation , Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/metabolism , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/genetics , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Cell Line , Cell Membrane/immunology , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Female , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/genetics , Hybridomas , Immunization , In Vitro Techniques , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Inbred C3H , Molecular Sequence Data , Protein Binding , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/metabolismABSTRACT
Three chemically-induced precancerous mammary hyperplasias, independently isolated in BALB/c mice, all contained mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) proviral DNA integrated into a common region in chromosomal DNA, designated Int-5 (Formerly Int-H, Gray et al., 1986). This site was cloned from a hyperplastic outgrowth (D2) into lambda phage. A 1.7 Kb Hind III DNA fragment, which flanks the 5' end of the MMTV insert, was generated from the cloned Int-5 region. This fragment was used as probe (IH-2) to localize Int-5 to mouse chromosome 9. The IH-2 sequence was highly conserved in DNA of several mammalian species including man, in three other widely divergent vertebrate phyla, and in C. elegans. The Int-5 region, containing 5.6 Kb 5' and 12.8 Kb 3' to the MMTV integration site in D2, was cloned in EMBL-3 from a BALB/c genomic DNA library. cDNA complementary to poly A+ lactating mammary gland RNA, annealed with Sst-1 fragments spanning most of the BALB/c Int-5 clone. The highest level of Int-5 specific poly A+ mRNA was detected in D2 tumor. Lactating mammary gland and D2 hyperplastic alveolar nodule contained 5-fold less Int-5 RNA while liver contained 8-fold less Int-5 RNA. Int-5 cDNA (IH-3) annealed with two RNA species of approximately 3.3 and 4.0 Kb. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that Int-5 contains an oncogene, different from any other previously described, involved in early events in some models of chemical carcinogenesis.
