CHARACTERIZATION OF A DIVERSE PRIMARY HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 GB-SPECIFIC CYTOTOXIC T-CELL RESPONSE SHOWING A PREFERENTIAL V-BETA BIAS

The glycoprotein B (gB) from herpes simplex virus type 1 is a major target of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in C57BL/6 mice. The majority of these T cells are directed to a single K-b-restricted determinant, gB(498-505). We have analyzed the T-cell receptor (TCR) usage in gB-specific CTL lines derived shortly after virus infection. The CTL populations preferentially used two V beta regions, a dominant V beta 10 element and a subdominant V beta 8 element. Detailed sequence analysis revealed considerable TCR beta-chain heterogeneity despite a striking level of predicted amino acid conservation at the V beta-D beta junction. This junction forms part of the third hypervariable loop of the TCR thought to directly contact the major histocompatibility complex-bound antigenic peptide. The results reveal considerable diversity within the primary T cells responding to a single viral determinant while still maintaining a high degree of TCR V beta bias and sequence conservation at the V-D-J junction.