Functional development of the T cell receptor for antigen.

摘要: Abstract For over three decades now, the T cell receptor (TCR) for antigen has not ceased to challenge imaginations of cellular and molecular immunologists alike. recognition transcends every aspect adaptive immunity: it shapes repertoire in thymus directs cell-mediated effector functions periphery, where is also central induction peripheral tolerance. Yet, despite its position, there remain many questions unresolved: how can one TCR be specific particular peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) ligand while binding other pMHC ligands with an immunologically relevant affinity? And a cell's extreme specificity (alterations single methyl groups their abrogate response) sensitivity (single agonist on surface are sufficient trigger measurable emerge from TCR–ligand interactions that so low Solving these intimately tied fundamental understanding dynamics within different contexts various cell–antigen presenting (APC) contacts: thymic APCs shape guide functional differentiation developing cells support homeostasis provoke responses naive, effector, memory, regulatory cells. Here, we discuss our recent findings relating this leads development foreign-antigen-responsive αβT