Identification of the receptor for antigen and major histocompatibility complex on human inducer T lymphocytes.

Human T cell clones and monoclonal antibodies directed at their surface structures were used to define the receptor for the antigen and major histocompatibility complex on inducer T lymphocytes. The results indicated that the receptor is a single complex consisting of the monomorphic T3 molecule with a molecular weight of 20,000 to 25,000 and a clonotypic disulfide linked heterodimer Ti with a molecular weight of 90,000. Sepharose-bound monoclonal antibodies (anti-Ti4 or anti-T3) to the receptor could activate clonal proliferation and inducer function for B cell immunoglobulin secretion and thus substitute for the appropriate combination of major histocompatibility complex gene product and specific antigen.