title: Structural basis of T cell recognition of peptides bound to MHC molecules.
abstract: Helper T lymphocytes play a critical role in immune system activation following recognition of MHC class II-bound peptide ligands (pMHCII). These CD4 T cells stimulate B cell antibody production and cytolytic T cell generation. Until recently, the structural basis of coordinate T cell receptor (TCR) and CD4 co-receptor interaction with a given pMHCII was unknown. Here we review current structural data on specific pMHCII recognition by T cells and compare TCR and co-receptor docking to pMHCI versus pMHCII ligands. The implications of these findings for thymic selection, helper versus cytolytic T cell recognition and alloreactivity are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jwang@red.dfci.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Jia-huai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ellis L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Reinherz
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta