T-cell recognition of human haemoglobin. Localization of the full T-cell recognition profile of the beta-chain by a comprehensive synthetic strategy

This paper reports the localization of the regions on the beta-chain that are recognized by T cells from mice immunized with haemoglobin. The 14 overlapping peptides encompassing the entire beta-chain were examined in vitro for their ability to stimulate lymph-node cells from haemoglobin-primed B10.D2 (H-2d) and SJL (H-2s) mice. Several regions of the molecule (T sites) were found to stimulate haemoglobin-primed lymph-node cells. This strategy has enabled the localization of the full profile of T-cell recognition of the beta-chain by these mouse strains. Some of the regions that stimulated T cells appeared to coincide with those recognized by antibodies (i.e. B cells). It is noteworthy that, in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells, the protein has other sites that are recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody response is directed.