Abstract
The interaction between the T-cell receptor (TCR) and its peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pepMHC) ligand plays a critical role in determining the activity and specificity of the T cell. The binding properties associated with these interactions have now been studied in many systems, providing a framework for a mechanistic understanding of the initial events that govern T-cell function. There have been various other reviews that have described the structural and biochemical features of TCR : pepMHC interactions. Here we provide an overview of four areas that directly impact our understanding of T-cell function, as viewed from the perspective of the TCR : pepMHC interaction: (1) relationships between T-cell activity and TCR : pepMHC binding parameters, (2) TCR affinity, avidity and clustering, (3) influence of coreceptors on pepMHC binding by TCRs and T-cell activity, and (4) impact of TCR binding affinity on antigenic peptide specificity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 165-176 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Immunology |
Volume | 126 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2009 |
Keywords
- Agonists
- Antagonists
- Binding affinity
- Coreceptors
- Dissociation rate
- Major histocompatibility complex
- Peptide specificity
- Peptide-major histocompatibility complex
- Serial triggering
- T-cell receptor
- T-cell receptor clustering
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology