Class II MHC: sweetening the peptide only diet?
MHC molecules typically bind peptides to create ligands for the T cell antigen receptor. In this issue of Cell, report an unexpected association of class II MHC molecules with processed zwitterionic polysaccharides from pathogenic bacteria. The complexes appear to modulate the T cell dependent pathology of abscess formation.
Watts
Colin
C
Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom.
D000038:Abscess / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell