Figure 1

Proliferation of DR4-(DRB1*0401)-restricted T cells in response to type II collagen. A panel of analog peptides containing amino acid substitutions was tested for the ability to stimulate the proliferation of type II collagen (CII)-primed T cells. DR4 transgenic mice were immunized with CII; 10 days later, draining lymph node cells were harvested and cultured with the analog peptides. Proliferation was measured by [³H]thymidine incorporation and results are shown as means ± standard deviation (x axis). Data shown are from a representative experiment. Lymph node cells from six immunized mice were pooled before culture, and the data were subsequently confirmed in three separate experiments. Control cells cultured with no antigen had a proliferation value of 0.38 × 10^-3 d.p.m.