title: MHC restriction is imposed on a diverse T cell receptor repertoire by CD4 and CD8 co-receptors during thymic selection.
abstract: Mature αβ T cells recognize foreign antigenic peptides presented by MHC molecules but do not recognize native antigenic proteins; features known as MHC restriction. How MHC restriction is imposed on αβ T cells has intrigued immunologists for several decades. One model proposes that germline-encoded elements in the T cell receptor (TCR) variable regions are evolutionarily conserved to only recognize MHC. However, we propose an alternative model that posits that MHC restriction is imposed by CD4 and CD8 co-receptors during thymic selection. Thus, we think that TCRs are structurally able to recognize a huge diversity of ligands but only TCRs with MHC specificity survive thymic selection.
authors: Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Van Laethem
authors: Anastasia N
authors: AN
authors: Tikhonova
authors: Alfred
authors: A
authors: Singer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell