title: Dual Valpha T cells.
abstract: The assumption that T cells can only express a single receptor for antigen has in recent years been shown to be incorrect. However, the finding that a substantial number of T cells express two distinct antigen receptors at the cell surface raises a number of questions. In particular, it has been suggested that cells expressing low levels of a self-reactive T cell receptor may escape self-tolerance mechanisms and in certain situations trigger the onset of autoimmune disease. Such a hypothesis in turn raises questions central to the understanding of the nature of T cell recognition and the process of thymocyte maturation.
authors.affiliation: Director's Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. jielliot@rpms.ac.uk
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D019070:Cell Lineage; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta