A TRAV26-1-encoded recognition motif focuses the biased T cell response in celiac disease

The semi-public T-cell response towards the gluten epitope DQ2.5-glia-alpha 2 uses a prototypic TCR encoded by the germline segments TRAV26-1 and TRBV7-2. Through mutagenesis experiments, we show that a TRAV26-1encoded recognition motif contacts the MHC beta-chain and the TCR CDR3 beta loop underpinning this conserved T-cell response restricted to the prototypic TCRs.