BINDING OF T-CELL RECEPTOR TO MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS-II-PEPTIDE COMPLEXES AT THE SINGLE-CELL LEVEL RESULTS IN THE INDUCTION OF ANTIGEN UNRESPONSIVENESS (ANERGY)

Using dispersion cultures performed in semi-solid medium we demonstrate here that the interaction of T cell antigen receptor molecules with Ia-peptide complexes on the same cell surface results in T cell activation. without the production of lymphokines. This recognition of antigen at the single-cell level, induced a state of anergy which was not due to a decrease of surface T cell antigen receptor/CD3 complexes. The induction of anergy by peptide could not be prevented by the addition of various co-stimulatory signals, including antibodies to CD28, or CD2, high doses of interleukin-2 or phorbol ester.