Soluble MHC class I molecules loaded with antigenic peptides are available either to detect and to enumerate or, alternatively, to sort and expand MHC class I-restricted and peptide-reactive T cells. A defined number of MHC class I/peptide complexes can now be implemented to measure T cell responses induced upon Ag-specific stimulation, including CD3/CD8/zeta-chain down-regulation, pattern, and...

Recently, independent lines of evidence strongly suggested that peptides derived from one foreign major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule bound to another MHC molecule can give rise to multiple composite MHC complexes that are able to stimulate allo-(xeno)-reactive T cells. In this study, we describe that in vivo immunization of mice with cells mismatched with the recipient for a single...

The development of TCR alphabeta(+), CD8alphabeta(+) intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) is dependent on MHC class I molecules expressed in the thymus, while some CD8alphaalpha(+) IEL may arise independently of MHC class I. We examined the influence of MHC I allele dosage on the development CD8(+) T cells in RAG 2(-/-) mice expressing the H-2D(b)-restricted transgenic TCR specific for ...

Originally recognized for their role in triggering T cell responses that caused the rejection of transplanted tissue, it is now known that MHC-encoded molecules are involved in immunesurveillance and antigen presentation to T lymphocytes. These MHC molecules act as “signposts” that displays fragmented pieces of an antigen (viral proteins in virus-infected cells or mutated proteins in tumor cell...

MHC class I molecules (MHC-I) are cell surface recognition elements expressed on virtually all somatic cells. These molecules sample peptides generated within the cell and signal the cell's physiological state to effector cells of the immune system, both T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. In addition, molecules structurally related to MHC-I, collectively known as MHC-Ib, are more spec...

Exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles released by a number of cell types including those of the immune system, and often contain numerous immune recognition molecules including MHC molecules. We demonstrate in this study that exosomes can display a significant proportion of their MHC class I (MHC I) content in the form of disulfide-linked MHC I dimers. These MHC I dimers can be detected after r...