title: T cell antigen receptor immune complexes demonstrating biologic and proteolytic activity.
abstract: An elastase-like protease, recently recognized as a specific product of murine T cells, may functionally associate with the classical TCR. T cell elastase, found in combination with the natural elastase inhibitor alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-protease inhibitor, alpha 1-PI), is produced by both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. T cell elastase and alpha 1-PI are found chemically associated with the TCR in an antigen-specific complex reminiscent of the Ig-complement 'immune complexes'.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7455.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Flood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase