ENGAGEMENT OF THE B-LYMPHOCYTE ANTIGEN RECEPTOR INDUCES PRESENTATION OF INTRINSIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN PEPTIDES ON MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS-II MOLECULES
K. Bartnes et K. Hannestad, ENGAGEMENT OF THE B-LYMPHOCYTE ANTIGEN RECEPTOR INDUCES PRESENTATION OF INTRINSIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN PEPTIDES ON MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS-II MOLECULES, European Journal of Immunology, 27(5), 1997, pp. 1124-1130
By means of the clonotypic variable region, the immunoglobulin (Ig) is
a tumor-specific antigen on B cell neoplasms. We report that engageme
nt of the B cell antigen receptor (BcR) promotes presentation of pepti
des derived from the B cell's intrinsic Ig to major histocompatibility
complex (MHC) class II-restricted T cells. Thus, anti-Ig endowed norm
al, ex vivo B lymphocytes from H-2(d), Ig constant heavy chain allotyp
e b (IgC(H)(b)) mice with the capacity to stimulate an I-A(d)-restrict
ed T cell clone which recognizes the gamma 2a(b) 435-451 allopeptide.
The corresponding self gamma 2a(a) peptide is cryptic and 6000-fold le
ss antigenic than the gamma 2a(b) allopeptide. Even so, the syngeneic
B cell lymphoma A20 which expresses surface (s) IgG2a(a), was also rec
ognized by the T cells after BcR ligation. Thus, anti-Ig triggered the
disclosure of a cryptic tumor antigen determinant. We propose that au
toantigens, by engaging the BcR of self-reactive B cells, induce prese
ntation of intrinsic Ig peptides to which the T helper cell (Th) reper
toire is not tolerant. In this way, B cells with anti-self potential m
ay be activated without Th recognition of nominal autoantigen.