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TCRspec: A Recognition Interface-Informed Multimodal Method for TCR-pMHC Specificity Prediction.

Specific recognition between T-cell receptors (TCRs) and peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) is central to adaptive immunity, yet accurate prediction of TCR-pMHC specificity remains challenging. Existing models mainly rely on sequence features or isolated molecular structures, limiting their ability to capture interface-level determinants within the ternary recognition complex. Here, we constructed the multimodal TCR-pMHC ternary complex (MM-TCR) data set, integrating paired TCR-pMHC sequences, V/J gene annotations, and modeled TCR-pMHC complex structures refined by short molecular dynamics-based relaxation. Based on MM-TCR, we developed TCRspec, an interpretable multimodal framework combining sequence embeddings, gene-usage features, and complex-level structural representations. Under a stringent CD-HIT TCR-cluster-disjoint split, TCRspec achieved an average AUROC of 0.896 and AUPRC of 0.882 across seven antigen-specific test data sets, outperforming representative baseline models. Cross-validation and ablation analyses confirmed the contribution of ternary complex structural information and MD-refined structures. In independent OOD peptide-TCR systems, TCRspec retained discriminative performance and identified model-inferred peptide positions associated with TCR recognition, providing a structure-informed framework for TCR specificity prediction.

Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell

Assessing data size requirements for training generalizable sequence-based TCR specificity models via pan-allelic MHC-I point-mutation ligandome evaluation.

Rapid identification of T cell receptors (TCRs) that specifically bind patient-unique neoepitopes is a critical challenge for personalized TCR-based therapies in oncology. Due to enormous diversity of both TCR and neoepitope repertoires, a machine learning predictor of TCR-pMHC specificity for personalized therapy must generalize to TCRs and epitopes not seen in the training data. We estimate the necessary size of such training data. We first confirm that published models fail to generalize beyond a single-residue dissimilarity to the epitope training set distribution. We then impute the point-mutation ligandome across the 34 most prevalent human MHC alleles and represent it as a graph based on our established dissimilarity cutoff. By finding the dominating set of this graph, we estimate that between one and 100 million epitopes are required to train a generalizable sequence-based TCR specificity prediction model-1000 times the size of current public data.

Humans

Learning predictive signatures of HLA type from T-cell repertoires.

T cells recognize a wide range of pathogens using surface receptors that interact directly with peptides presented on major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) encoded by the HLA loci in humans. Understanding the association between T cell receptors (TCR) and HLA alleles is an important step towards predicting TCR-antigen specificity from sequences. Here we analyze the TCR alpha and beta repertoires of large cohorts of HLA-typed donors to systematically infer such associations, by looking for overrepresentation of TCRs in individuals with a common allele.TCRs, associated with a specific HLA allele, exhibit sequence similarities that suggest prior antigen exposure. Immune repertoire sequencing has produced large numbers of datasets, however the HLA type of the corresponding donors is rarely available. Using our TCR-HLA associations, we trained a computational model to predict the HLA type of individuals from their TCR repertoire alone. We propose an iterative procedure to refine this model by using data from large cohorts of untyped individuals, by recursively typing them using the model itself. The resulting model shows good predictive performance, even for relatively rare HLA alleles.

Humans

Inhibition of mouse mammary tumor virus-induced T cell responses in vivo by antibodies to an open reading frame protein.

Minor lymphocyte stimulating (Mls) antigens specifically stimulate T cell responses that are restricted to particular T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain variable domains. The Mls phenotype is genetically controlled by an open reading frame (orf) located in the 3' long terminal repeat of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV); however, the mechanism of action of the orf gene product is unknown. Whereas predicted orf amino acid sequences show strong overall homology, the 20-30 COOH-terminal residues are strikingly polymorphic. This polymorphic region correlates with TCR V beta specificity. We have generated monoclonal antibodies to a synthetic peptide encompassing the 19 COOH-terminal amino acid residues of Mtv-7 orf, which encodes the Mls-1a determinant. We show here that these antibodies block Mls responses in vitro and can interfere specifically with thymic clonal deletion of Mls-1a reactive V beta 6+ T cells in neonatal mice. Furthermore, the antibodies can inhibit V beta 6+ T cell responses in vivo to an infectious MMTV that shares orf sequence homology and TCR specificity with Mtv-7. These results confirm the predicted extracellular localization of the orf COOH terminus and imply that the orf proteins of both endogenous and exogenous MMTV interact directly with TCR V beta.

Amino Acid Sequence

Molecular mimicry by major histocompatibility complex molecules and peptides accounts for some alloresponses.

One explanation offered for the uniquely high precursor frequencies of T cells which recognize allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, and their lack of self-MHC restriction, is that the alloreactive cells are polyclonal populations the primary specificity of which is self-MHC plus peptide X1, X2, ... Xn. These are postulated to cross-react with allo-MHC plus peptides Y1, Y2, ... Yn. It has been further suggested that the structural basis for the crossreactivity between different MHC alleles is the similarity in amino acid sequence of that part of the molecule predicted to make contact with the T cell receptor (TcR). In order to test this concept, T cells were obtained with dual specificity for influenza haemagglutinin (HA), restricted by HLA-DR1Dw1, and for DR4Dw4/Dw14 expressed on allogeneic human B cell lines, and the specificity of one clone was studied in detail. The exposed, TcR-contacting surfaces of these two DR molecules are predicted to be identical. Although the HA-specific response was stimulated by DR1-expressing mouse DAP.3 transfectants, DAP.3 cells expressing the alloantigen DR4Dw4 were unable to stimulate, possibly because of a failure to present the necessary human peptide for anti-DR4 allorecognition. Therefore, the effects of pulsing the DR4Dw4-expressing DAP.3 cells with the HA peptide were examined. This peptide is known to bind to both DR1 and DR4. Addition of the HA peptide restored the anti-DR4Dw4 response. These data support the concept that allorecognition in some responder/stimulator combinations can be explained by cross-reactivity at the level of the MHC molecule and the peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence

Identification of pre-T cells in human peripheral blood. Extrathymic differentiation of CD7+CD3- cells into CD3+ gamma/delta+ or alpha/beta+ T cells.

CD7+CD3- cells purified (greater than 99.99%) by FACS from the peripheral blood of healthy adults include precursors for mature T cells that have the capacity to differentiate into TCR-1+ or TCR-2+ CD3+ cells. Extrathymic differentiation was demonstrable from all eight healthy donors in the presence of a high concentration of IL-2, mitogenic levels of PHA, and irradiated blood mononuclear feeder cells, after a lag of approximately 40 d in vitro. The extrathymic T (ET) cells were predominantly TCR-1+, although TCR-2+ cells were also derived. ET TCR-1+ cells were CD4-CD8-, CD4-CD8DIM+, and CD4+CD8-, and were distinguished from natural T TCR-2+ cells by a variety of cell surface markers. The ET cells had phenotypes generally displayed by normal mature T cells, although the CD5DIM+ on ET cells was more typical of thymocytes. Acquisition of CD3 on purified CD7+CD3- cells was not due to antigenic modulation or growth of contaminants, and ET cells could be demonstrated at the clonal level. Studies in athymic mice and bone marrow recipients support the view that extrathymic maturation does occur in vivo. Whether the CD7+CD3- cell population was unexposed to the thymus, or exposed but not processed, is unknown. In any case, unusual or "forbidden" autoreactive specificities are predicted since ET cells differentiate without thymic selection of the TCR.

Antigens, CD7

T-cell receptor variable beta genes show differential expression in CD4 and CD8 T cells.

Studies in transgenic and inbred strains of mice have shown that the critical molecular interactions controlling positive selection involve major histocompatibility complex (MHC), T-cell receptor (TCR), and CD4 or CD8 coreceptor molecules. Correlations have been established between MHC gene products and the percentage of CD4 or CD8 T cells that express specific variable (V) beta-gene products as part of the alpha beta heterodimer. These studies have important implications regarding potential mechanisms of HLA-linked autoimmune diseases in humans. If similar interactions are required for positive selection in humans, one would predict that the TCR repertoire expressed by mature, peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T cells would vary. To test this hypothesis the expression of specific TCR V beta-region genes by CD4 and CD8 T cells from healthy individuals was compared using both triple-color flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction based experimental approaches. The results show that the TCR repertoire does vary as a function of CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets. Among unrelated individuals certain V beta genes were consistently overrepresented in the CD4 population (V beta-5.1, -6.7a, and -18); some were skewed to the CD8 population (V beta-14) while others showed variable patterns (V beta-12 and -17). Deletion of entire V beta gene families was not observed suggesting that this is a rare event in humans. Attempts to correlate the expressed TCR repertoire in humans with HLA alleles will require consideration of these differences in expression as a function of subset.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Signal for T-cell differentiation to a CD4 cell lineage is delivered by CD4 transmembrane region and/or cytoplasmic tail.

Mature T cells express either CD4 or CD8 on their surface. Most helper T cells express CD4, which binds to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, and most cytotoxic T cells express CD8, which binds to class I MHC proteins. In the thymus, mature CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ T cells expressing alpha beta T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) develop from immature thymocytes through CD4+CD8+ alpha beta TCR+ intermediates. Experiments using mice transgenic for alpha beta TCR suggest that the specificity of the TCR determines the CD4/CD8 phenotype of mature T cells. These results, however, do not indicate how a T cell differentiates into the CD4 or CD8 lineage. Here we show that the CD4 transmembrane region and/or cytoplasmic tail mediates the delivery of a specific signal that directs differentiation of T cells to a CD4 lineage. We generated transgenic mice expressing a hybrid molecule composed of the CD8 alpha extracellular domains linked to the CD4 transmembrane region and cytoplasmic tail. We predicted that this hybrid molecule would bind to class I MHC proteins through the extracellular domains but deliver the intracellular signals characteristic of CD4. By crossing our transgenic mice with mice expressing a transgenic alpha beta TCR specific for a particular antigen plus class I MHC protein, we were able to express the hybrid molecule in developing thymocytes expressing the class I MHC-restricted TCR. Our results show that the signal transduced by the hybrid molecule results in the differentiation of immature thymocytes expressing a class I-restricted TCR into mature T cells expressing CD4.

Animals

The human T cell receptor beta-chain gene complex contains at least 57 variable gene segments. Identification of six V beta genes in four new gene families.

The human TCR beta-chain gene complex includes at least 57 variable (V) gene segments, a number estimated using a combination of Southern blots of conventional and pulsed field gels, sequence analysis of cDNA clones, and from the analysis of genomic cosmid and phage clones. This number includes six TCR beta-chain V genes in four new families identified here by sequence analysis of clones derived from a human TCR beta-chain specific cDNA library. Comparison of the sequences of the new V beta genes with previously reported V beta sequences reveals predicted similarities but less than 75% nucleic acid identity that establishes them as new V beta families. One of the new V beta gene families includes three genes and the other three are single member families. Identification of these six new V beta genes falling into four V beta families brings the total number of transcribed human V beta families to 24 and makes it possible to refine the estimate of the total number of human TCR V beta genes to 57.

Amino Acid Sequence

Profound alteration in an alpha beta T-cell antigen receptor repertoire due to polymorphism in the first complementarity-determining region of the beta chain.

Amino acid residues that are critical in maintaining the framework structure of immunoglobulin heavy- and light-chain variable (V) regions are strongly conserved in the V alpha and V beta proteins of the alpha beta T-cell antigen receptor (TCR alpha beta). Consequently, it has been proposed that TCR alpha beta has a conformation similar to that of an immunoglobulin Fab fragment and that the regions of the TCR homologous to the three immunoglobulin complementarity-determining regions (CDRs 1, 2, and 3) bind to the peptide antigen-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule ligand. A single amino acid substitution in the predicted CDR1 of the V beta 3 protein of certain mouse strains dramatically altered TCR alpha beta usage in an antigen-specific MHC-restricted immune response but did not abrogate V beta 3 specificity for the superantigens minor lymphocyte stimulatory locus (Mls)c and staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA). The results confirm the importance of the V beta CDR1 in antigen-MHC molecule recognition, supporting the Fab-like structural model of TCR alpha beta, and provide further evidence that conventional antigen-MHC recognition and superantigen recognition are mediated by distinct regions of the TCR beta chain. They also suggest that allelic polymorphism may be a significant source of diversity in the TCR repertoire.

Animals

Limited regions of the alpha 2-domain alpha-helix control anti-A2 allorecognition: an analysis using a panel of A2 mutants.

The regions of the HLA-A2 molecule controlling anti-A2 alloreactivity were explored using naturally occurring allelic variants of HLA-A, and a panel of transfectants expressing the products of A2.1 genes that had been mutated at multiple positions encoding residues in the alpha 2 domain alpha-helix. As a means of detecting distant conformational effects, these altered A2.1 molecules were also examined serologically. Amino acid substitutions at the carboxy-terminal end of the alpha 2 domain alpha-helix led to diminished staining with the monoclonal antibody (mAb) MA2.1. The epitope for this antibody has previously been mapped to the alpha 1 domain alpha-helix (residues 62-65). This suggests that interdomain contacts may cause conformational alteration, and that mutants can have distant, as well as local effects. Of the 24 positions where substitutions were made, only six led to loss of the anti-A2 alloresponse by the three clones and three lines that were tested. In addition, the mutations that altered the MA2.1 epitope, located on the alpha 1 domain alpha-helix, did not inhibit allorecognition. This suggests that a limited number of regions on the A2.1 molecule are responsible for allodeterminant expression. The most influential substitutions were those at positions 152, 154, 162, and 166. It is notable that three of these are predicted to be T-cell receptor (Tcr)-contacting residues, and one (152) to contribute to peptide binding. These results suggest that the specificity of alloreactive T cells is determined by exposed polymorphisms, directly contacted by the Tcr, and by concealed polymorphisms which influence peptide binding.

Cell Line

Contribution of T-cell receptor-contacting and peptide-binding residues of the class II molecule HLA-DR4 Dw10 to serologic and antigen-specific T-cell recognition.

The relative contributions of putative T-cell receptor (TCR)-contacting and peptide-binding residues of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II restriction element to serologic and antigen-specific T-cell recognition were investigated by site-specific mutagenesis. Amino acids 70 and 71 in the DR beta 1 domain of DR4 Dw10 are uniquely differnet from the other Dw subtypes of DR4. Residue 70 is predicted to be located at the membrane-distal surface of the class II molecule, where it may influence T-cell recognition by a direct interaction with a TCR. Residue 71 is predicted to form part of the antigen-binding groove where its influence on T-cell recognition may be mediated indirectly via an effect on peptide binding. Transfected murine L cells were produced expressing the products of DR4 Dw10B genes in which the codons for residues 70 and 71 had been mutated towards DR4 Dw14. Support for the predicted orientations of beta-chain residues 70 and 71 was lent by the observation that only residue 70 plays an important role in the formation of a serologic determinant. Mutation of this residue was sufficient to produce recovery of recognition by a human monoclonal antibody, NI, which has specificity for all the DR4 subtypes with the exception of DR4 Dw10. The human T-cell clone HA1.7, specific for influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) peptide 307-319 and restricted by DR1 Dw1, exhibits degeneracy of MHC restriction on the DR4 Dw subtypes with the exception of DR4 Dw10.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Generation of diversity in T cell receptor repertoire specific for pigeon cytochrome c.

17 T cell clones and 3 T cell lines, specific for pigeon cytochrome c, were analyzed for fine specificity and rearranged T cell receptor (TCR) gene elements. Clones of similar fine specificities were grouped into one of four phenotypes, and correlations between phenotype differences and gene usage could be made. All the lines and clones rearranged a member of the V alpha 2B4 gene family to a limited number of J alpha regions. The beta chain was made up of one of three non-cross-hybridizing V beta regions, each rearranging to only one or two J beta s. The use of alternate V beta regions could be correlated with phenotype differences, which were manifested either as MHC- or MHC and antigen-specificity changes. In addition, the presence of alloreactivity, which defined a phenotype difference, could be correlated solely with the use of an alternate J alpha region. These observations were substantiated by prospective analyses of pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cell lines that were selected for alternate MHC specificity or alloreactivity and were found to express the correlated alpha and beta chain rearrangements. Previously, the TCR DNA sequences from two clones, each representing a variant of one phenotype, showed sequence differences only in the N regions of their TCR genes. Since only these two variants, using identical V alpha-J alpha and V beta-J beta gene elements, were repeatedly observed in this study, we would predict that the junctional diversity differences are selectable. In this T cell response, all the gene elements involved in the generation of diversity appear to be selected, and may therefore be important in the determination of TCR specificity. This high degree of receptor gene selection represents a fundamental difference from the diversity seen in several extensively analyzed antibody responses.

Animals

In a small multideterminant peptide, each determinant is recognized by a different V beta gene segment.

Given the vast potential for diversification of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and the fact that V(a) beta mice exist in the wild, it would have been predicted that in spite of the absence of 10 TCR V beta gene segments, V(a) beta mice would still have been able to produce an antigen-specific T cell response to all determinants. We have recently shown that Vb beta mice, with a wild-type TCR V beta repertoire, respond to peptide 110-121 of sperm whale myoglobin, with a majority of T cells expressing TCR V beta 8.2 and restricted to a hybrid I-A(d)/I-E(d) major histocompatibility complex molecule, and a smaller number of T cells expressing TCR V beta 8.1 and restricted to the I-A(d) molecule. However, V(a) beta mice, lacking members of the TCR V beta 8 gene family, responded only with I-A(d)-restricted T cells. Thus, it appeared that the I-A(d)-restricted response was less constrained, or more plastic. We now show that the two separate panels of I-A(d)-restricted T cell hybrids derived from V(a) beta or Vb beta mice in fact recognize distinct determinants within the same peptide 110-121. The determinant recognized by V(a) beta T cells is NH2 terminal (core: 110-118) with an absolute requirement for the residue Ala-110 for a successful interaction with TCRs. On the other hand, Vb beta T cells recognize the COOH-terminal region (core: 112-118) on the same peptide with an absolute requirement for COOH-terminal residue 118. In the dominance hierarchy displayed by the three distinct determinants of peptide 110-121, V(a) beta mice cannot recognize the two most dominant: the hybrid I-A(d)/I-E(d)-restricted determinant and the COOH-terminal, I-A(d)-restricted determinant. They instead respond with T cells specific for a third, distinctly NH2-terminal determinant. Our results show a strict association between recognition of a particular specificity and TCR V beta usage. This evidence suggests that even when a small peptide induces a heterogenous group of TCR V beta S, this need not be considered evidence for plasticity. Rather, at the level of individual determinants within the peptide, the results can point in the opposite direction, towards serious constraints in recognition at the level of V beta expression.

Amino Acid Sequence

Structure-function relationship among T-cell receptors specific for lysozyme peptides bound to Ab or Abm-12 molecules.

The alpha beta T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizes antigenic peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. In contrast to the antibody combining site, for which the antigen contact or complementarity-determining residues (CDRs) have been precisely defined, the location and function of the corresponding CDR regions of the alpha and beta TCR chains are not known. To develop a model system for systematic analysis of the CDRs of the alpha beta TCR, we isolated a panel of murine T-cell clones that recognize a lysozyme peptide containing residues 74-88 bound to either Ab or Abm-12 MHC class II molecules. Although these two MHC molecules differ by only three amino acid residues within the A beta chain, each of the T-cell clones was specific for peptide bound to the self-MHC molecule and did not recognize the same peptide bound to the other MHC molecule. The structural basis for this exquisite ligand specificity of the TCRs was analyzed by isolation and characterization of alpha and beta chain genes from five closely related T-cell clones. Comparison of predicted amino acid sequences mapped the ligand specificity differences to residues present within the alpha chain variable region segment and the alpha and beta chain variable-joining region junction regions. Thus with current models of TCR-ligand interactions, the results suggest that residues 26-30 of the alpha chain variable region may constitute one of the CDR regions of the TCR.

Amino Acid Sequence

Lysine 271 in the transmembrane domain of the T-cell antigen receptor beta chain is necessary for its assembly with the CD3 complex but not for alpha/beta dimerization.

The T-cell antigen receptor (TcR) complex present on most T-cells is formed by a clone-specific disulfide-linked alpha/beta heterodimer noncovalently associated to the CD3 complex, the latter composed of five invariant polypeptides: gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta/zeta, or zeta/eta. The presence of conserved, oppositely charged, amino acids in the predicted transmembrane domains of all the subunits of the TcR.CD3 complex suggests that these residues may have a critical function in the assembly and/or stabilization of the complex. In order to analyze the role of the transmembrane-charged amino acids in the association and cell surface expression of the TcR.CD3 complex, we have carried out site-directed mutagenesis of Lys271 in the transmembrane domain of the TcR beta chain and analyzed the capacity of the altered chain to assemble in a TcR beta-negative T-cell line. Here we show that substitution of this positively charged residue by alanine or glutamine does not prevent cytoplasmic association of alpha and beta chains to form disulfide-linked heterodimers, but does abolish formation of an alpha/beta.CD3 complex and, consequently, its expression on the cell surface.

Antigens, CD

T cell receptor alpha-chain pairing determines the specificity of residue 262 within the Kb-restricted, ovalbumin257-264 determinant.

Ovalbumin-specific, Kb-restricted T cells recognize the minimal fully active synthetic peptide ovalbumin (OVA)257-264. This sequence coincides with the eight residue, allele-specific peptide binding motif previously predicted from direct sequencing of naturally occurring Kb-associated peptides (Falk, K., Rotzscke, O., Stevanovic, S., Jung, G., and Rammensee, H.-G., Nature 351:290, 1990). T cell recognition of a panel of analogs with single residue substitutions between the two putative Kb anchor residues at OVA261 and OVA264 suggested that at least one residue, Glu at position 262, is involved in TCR interaction. OVA-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) derived from TCR beta-chain transgenic mice, where the beta-chain originates from an OVA-specific, Kb-restricted CTL B3, showed that differences in TCR alpha-chain pairing determined the specificity for OVA residue 262. These data support the notion that residue 262 of the OVA T cell determinant, corresponding to position 6 within the Kb-binding motif, represents a contact site for TCR. This residue interacts directly with the TCR alpha-chain or with a site on the TCR beta-chain whose conformation is affected by TCR alpha-chain pairing.

Amino Acid Sequence

Development of the CD4 and CD8 lineage of T cells: instruction versus selection.

T cells bearing the alpha beta T cell receptor (TCR) can be divided into CD4+8- and CD4-8+ subsets which develop in the thymus from CD4+8+ precursors. The commitment to the CD4 and CD8 lineage depends on the binding of the alpha beta TCR to thymic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) coded class II and class I molecules, respectively. In an instructive model of lineage commitment, the binding of the alpha beta TCR, for instance to class I MHC molecules, would generate a specific signal instructing the CD4+8+ precursors to switch off the expression of the CD4 gene. In a selective model, the initial commitment, i.e. switching off the expression of either the CD4 or the CD8 gene would be a stochastic event which is then followed by a selective step rescuing only CD4+ class II and CD8+ class I specific T cells while CD4+ class I and CD8+ class II specific cells would have a very short lifespan. The selective model predicts that a CD8 transgene which is expressed in all immature and mature T cells should rescue CD4+ class I MHC specific T cells from cell death. We have performed experiments in CD8 transgenic mice which fail to support a selective model and we present data which show that the binding of the alpha beta TCR to thymic class I MHC molecules results in up-regulation of the TCR in the CD4+8+ population. Therefore, these experiments are consistent with an instructive model of lineage commitment.

Animals