TCR-Mediated internalization of peptide-MHC complexes acquired by T cells.
Peptide-major histocompatibility complex protein complexes (pMHCs) on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are central to T cell activation. Within minutes of peptide-specific T cells interacting with APCs, pMHCs on APCs formed clusters at the site of T cell contact. Thereafter, these clusters were acquired by T cells and internalized through T cell receptor-mediated endocytosis. During this process, T cells became sensitive to peptide-specific lysis by neighboring T cells (fratricide). This form of immunoregulation could explain the "exhaustion" of T cell responses that is induced by high viral loads and may serve to down-regulate immune responses.
Huang
J F
JF
R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 3210 Merryfield Row, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Yang
Y
Y
Sepulveda
H
H
Shi
W
W
Hwang
I
I
Peterson
P A
PA
Jackson
M R
MR
Sprent
J
J
Cai
Z
Z
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004330:Drosophila; D004705:Endocytosis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins