title: TCR recognition of peptide/MHC class II complexes and superantigens.
abstract: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules display peptides to the T cell receptor (TCR). The ability of the TCR to discriminate foreign from self-peptides presented by MHC molecules is a requirement of an effective adaptive immune response. Dysregulation of this molecular recognition event often leads to a disease state. Recently, a number of structural studies have provided significant insight into several such dysregulated interactions between peptide/MHC complexes and TCR molecules. These include TCR recognition of self-peptides, which results in autoimmune reactions, and of mutant self-peptides, common in the immunosurveillance of tumors, as well as the engagement of TCRs by superantigens, a family of bacterial toxins responsible for toxic shock syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Boston Biomedical Research Institute, Watertown, MA 02472, USA. sundberg@bbri.org
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sundberg
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mariuzza
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018089:Superantigens