title: The self-obsession of T cells: how TCR signaling thresholds affect fate 'decisions' and effector function.
abstract: Self-reactivity was once seen as a potential characteristic of T cells that was eliminated by clonal selection to protect the host from autoimmune pathology. It is now understood that the T cell repertoire is in fact broadly self-reactive, even self-centered. The strength with which a T cell reacts to self ligands and the environmental context in which this reaction occurs influence almost every aspect of T cell biology, from development to differentiation to effector function. Here we highlight recent advances and discoveries that relate to T cell self-reactivity, with a particular emphasis on T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling thresholds.
authors.affiliation: Center for Immunology and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hogquist
authors.affiliation: Center for Immunology and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Jameson
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D017637:Clonal Deletion / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell