Partial activation of foreign antigen specific T lymphocytes by a self peptide: possible roles of altered peptide ligands in regulating T lymphocyte mediated immune response.
T cell interaction with antigenic peptides leads to signal transduction and activation events in the effector cells. Recent studies of T cell responses to subtle variants of antigenic peptides can lead to alterations in the activation state of T cells. A variety of physiological roles for altered peptide ligands have recently been postulated, and their potential therapeutic applications have generated considerable interest. This review summarizes progress made in understanding the T cell signal transduction pathways and the nature of T cell responses to altered peptide ligands. Our recent observation of a self peptide as a partial agonist for a cytotoxic T cell clone directed to a foreign antigen suggests that naturally occurring altered peptide ligands may be important in regulating T cell mediated immune response.
Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
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Braciale
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology
D001324:Autoantigens; D008024:Ligands; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D019014:fas Receptor