2001. Diverse repertoire of the MHC class II-peptide complexes is required for presentation of viral superantigens

Among other features, peptides affect MHC class II molecules, causing changes in the binding of bacterial superantigens (b-Sag). Whether peptides can alter binding of viral superantigens (v-Sag) to MHC class II was not known. Here we addressed the question of whether mutations limiting the diversity of peptides bound by the MHC class II molecules influenced the presentation of v-Sag and, subsequently, the life cycle of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). T cells reactive to v-Sag were found in mice lacking DM molecules as well as in AbEp-transgenic mice in which MHC class II binding grooves were predominantly occupied by an invariant chain fragment or Ea52–68 peptide, respectively. APCs from the mutant mice failed to present v-Sag, as determined by the lack of Sag-specific T cell activation, Sag-induced T cell deletion, and by the aborted MMTV infection. In contrast, mice that express I-Ab with a variety of bound peptides presented v-Sag and were susceptible to MMTV infection. Comparison of v-Sag and b-Sag presentation by the same mutant cells suggested that presentation of v-Sag had requirements similar to that for presentation of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. Thus, MHC class II peptide repertoire is critical for recognition of v-Sag by the T cells and affects the outcome of infection with a retrovirus. The Journal of Immunology, 2001, 166: 2244–2250. P eptides constitute an integral part of the MHC proteinswithout which these molecules aggregate and get de-graded. The tertiary complex between peptide and a- and b-chains of the MHC is seen by the TCR as a single entity. The nature of a peptide modifies the complexes in such a way that the overall conformation of the MHC molecule is changed. Th