title: T cell recognition of weak ligands: roles of signaling, receptor number, and affinity.
abstract: T cell recognition of antigen is a crucial aspect of the adaptive immune response. One of the most common means of pathogen immune evasion is mutation of T cell epitopes. T cell recognition of such ligands can result in a variety of outcomes including activation, apoptosis and anergy. The ability of a given T cell to respond to a specific peptide-MHC ligand is regulated by a number of factors, including the affinity, on- and off-rates and half-life of the TCR-peptide-MHC interaction. Interaction of T cells with low-potency ligands results in unique signaling patterns and requires engagement with a larger number of T cell receptors than agonist ligands. This review will address these aspects of T cell interaction with weak ligands and the ways in which these ligands have been utilized therapeutically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsay J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Evavold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D008024:Ligands; D010455:Peptides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell