title: Advances in direct T-cell alloreactivity: function, avidity, biophysics and structure.
abstract: Although T-cell-based adaptive immunity plays a crucial role in protection against infectious pathogens and uncontrolled outgrowth of malignant cells, a large portion of these T cells are also capable of responding to allogeneic HLA molecules, violating the paradigm of self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction. Recent studies have provided insights into the mechanisms by which these T cells recognize allogeneic targets. The role of antiviral T cells in direct alloreactivity through peptide-dependent molecular mimicry and alternate peptide-MHC docking modes has emerged as major models for the human alloresponse. Here, we review in depth recent advances in this field and discuss how molecular interactions between T cells and HLA molecules drive the activation of these effector cells and its potential implications for alloreactivity in human transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Vaccine Development, Tumour Immunology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khanna
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D001703:Biophysics; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*