Speculations on the specificity of suppression.
The mechanisms of antigen-specific T-cell suppression still remain inadequately explained. There has been a prolonged and unsuccessful hunt for 'suppressor cell markers'. This has largely deflected attention from a critical question--namely, what molecular structures are specifically recognized by cells mediating antigen-specific T-cell suppression? Here, Richard Batchelor and colleagues present the hypothesis that the structures 'seen' by these cells are in principle the same as those recognized by other T cells, that is, a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule holding a peptide in its binding cleft. In the particular circumstances of specific suppression, the peptide is derived from the variable (idiotypic) regions of the T-cell receptor of the target clone.
Batchelor
J R
JR
Lombardi
G
G
Lechler
R I
RI
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology
D000941:Antigens; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell