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Related Concept Videos

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Antigen Presenting Cells01:22

Antigen Presenting Cells

The immune system is a complex network of cells and molecules that protects the body from foreign invaders. T cells, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in this process. They recognize and attack foreign substances, such as pathogens, that enter the body.
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

Antigen receptors are essential components of the immune system crucial in defending the body against foreign invaders. These receptors are present on the surface of B and T cells, enabling them to recognize antigens and mount an appropriate immune response.
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Antigen Processing Pathways01:31

Antigen Processing Pathways

MHC molecules are key players in the immune response, enabling T cells to recognize and respond to specific antigens. They are present on the surface of all nucleated cells in the body and are instrumental in presenting antigens to T cells and activating them. T cells recognize the MHC-antigen complex and initiate an immune response. MHC class I and MHC class II are two main types of MHC molecules, each associated with a distinct antigen processing pathway.
MHC Class I: Presenting Endogenous...

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T cell antigen recognition at the cell membrane.

Jun Huang1, Christina Meyer, Cheng Zhu

  • 1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. junhuanggt@gmail.com

Molecular Immunology
|June 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary

T cell antigen receptor (TCR) interactions with peptide-MHC complexes (pMHCs) are crucial for T cell activation. New single-molecule assays reveal these interactions occur with rapid kinetics on live cell surfaces, enhancing T cell sensitivity.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) recognize peptide-MHC complexes (pMHCs) on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), initiating T cell activation.
  • Traditional methods like surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measure TCR-pMHC binding kinetics in solution, lacking physiological relevance due to the absence of cellular environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in situ binding kinetics of TCR-pMHC interactions on live T cells.
  • To understand the biochemical basis of T cell antigen recognition in a more physiologically relevant context.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) assays.
  • Employed single-molecule mechanical assays to measure TCR-pMHC interactions directly on the surface of live T cells.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that TCRs engage with pMHCs with very fast kinetics in situ.
  • Observed serial engagement of multiple pMHCs by individual TCRs.

Conclusions:

  • TCR-pMHC interactions on live cell surfaces provide crucial insights into T cell activation mechanisms.
  • Rapid, serial engagement of antigens by TCRs enhances T cell signaling sensitivity and antigen recognition efficiency.