Systems biology of T cell activation

T lymphocytes are central players in the adaptive immune response to pathogens. Cytotoxic T cells are able to identify and eliminate virally infected cells, while helper T cells support B lymphocyte-dependent antibody production as well as produce the cytokines that will determine whether a cell- or antibody-mediated immune response is required. The activation of T cells by pathogens is a complex process requiring multiple tightly regulated signaling pathways. Defects within this network, however, can cause severe and chronic disorders such as autoimmunity. Therefore, improving our understanding of how T cells discriminate between antigens and how these signals are organized to yield distinct immune responses is of importance as this may lead to the identification of novel drug targets and better therapeutic strategies.