A Monoclonal Antibody to Viral Glycoprotein Blocks Virus-Immune Effector T Cells Operating at H-2D^d but Not at H-2K^d1

A particular monoclonal antibody that binds to the influenza virus HA molecule inhibits HA-specific thymus-derived lymphocytes mediating cytotoxicity in the context of H-2D^d but not of H-2K^d. Another monoclonal antibody blocks both sets of HA-specific effector T cells. This observation, together with related findings from other laboratories, is considered to support the idea that T cell recognition is directed against some association of viral and H-2 glycoproteins, as proposed in the original formulation of the “altered self” concept.