title: T cells as antigen-presenting cells.
abstract: Human T cells express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens and adhesion molecules characteristic of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and recent in vitro and in vivo evidence supports an antigen-presenting function for T cells. In this guise, T cells provide downregulatory signals for the immune response by inducing anergy in T cells that have already been activated and cytotoxicity in resting T cells. Here, Werner Pichler and Tony Wyss-Coray suggest that this may represent an important negative mechanism for T-cell homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Immunology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wyss-Coray
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; C497964:CD86 protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins