Do T cells need endogenous peptides for activation?
T cells are sensitive to small numbers of antigenic peptide-MHC ligands that are distributed among an excess of endogenous peptide-MHC complexes on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. Although there are accumulating data that indicate a role for these endogenous peptide-MHC complexes in T-cell receptor triggering, whether they are necessary, and the nature of their function, is controversial. In this Opinion article, I argue that endogenous peptide-MHC complexes are required for T-cell stimulation and that their mechanism of action differs between CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells.
Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. gascoigne@scripps.edu
Nicholas R J
NR
Gascoigne
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell