title: TCR signaling requirements for activating T cells and for generating memory.
abstract: Over the last two decades the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying T cell activation, expansion, differentiation, and memory formation have been intensively investigated. These studies revealed that the generation of memory T cells is critically impacted by a number of factors, including the magnitude of the inflammatory response and cytokine production, the type of dendritic cell [DC] that presents the pathogen derived antigen, their maturation status, and the concomitant provision of costimulation. Nevertheless, the primary stimulus leading to T cell activation is generated through the T cell receptor [TCR] following its engagement with a peptide MHC ligand [pMHC]. The purpose of this review is to highlight classical and recent findings on how antigen recognition, the degree of TCR stimulation, and intracellular signal transduction pathways impact the formation of effector and memory T cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and Swiss Vaccine Research Institute, Centre des Laboratoires d'Epalinges-CLE, Bipole 3, Ch. des Boveresses 155, Epalinges, Switzerland. dietmar.zehn@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zehn
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bevan
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000502:physiology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell