Peptide competition for antigen presentation.
Since each major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule can bind many different peptides, it might be predicted that competition for the same MHC-binding site takes place between peptides with unrelated sequences. As Luciano Adorini and Zoltan Nagy report here, this does indeed occur, both in vitro and in vivo. In-vivo competition between peptides for antigen presentation to T lymphocytes is an important influence on the immunodominance of T-cell determinants. In addition, it is possible to modulate T-cell activation by interfering with the binding of antigenic peptides to MHC class II molecules. This could represent a suitable approach to a rational treatment of autoimmune diseases and, possibly, of allograft rejection.
Adorini
L
L
Preclinical Research, Sandoz Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.
Nagy
Z A
ZA
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D010455:Peptides