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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...
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...
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.
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...

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Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation
12:09

Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation

Published on: February 28, 2019

The molecular determinants of CD8 co-receptor function.

David K Cole1, Bruno Laugel, Mathew Clement

  • 1Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK. coledk@cardiff.ac.uk

Immunology
|July 19, 2012
PubMed
Summary

CD8(+) T cells use the T-cell receptor (TCR) and CD8 co-receptor to recognize antigens presented by MHC class I (MHCI) molecules. Structural and biophysical studies reveal how CD8 enhances this recognition, impacting T-cell responses.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • CD8(+) T cells are crucial for adaptive immunity, recognizing peptide-MHC class I (pMHC-I) complexes.
  • The CD8 co-receptor significantly enhances T-cell receptor (TCR) ligand recognition.
  • Recent structural and biophysical studies have illuminated the mechanisms of CD8-pMHC-I interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To collate and synthesize recent structural and biophysical data on CD8 co-receptor function.
  • To discuss how these data advance our understanding of T-cell antigen recognition.
  • To explore the implications for T-cell cross-reactivity and low-affinity ligand engagement.

Main Methods:

  • Review and integration of existing structural biology data.
  • Analysis of biophysical investigations into CD8-MHCI interactions.
  • Discussion of functional implications based on structural and biophysical parameters.

Main Results:

  • CD8 binds to the invariant region of MHCI, distinct from the TCR-peptide-MHC interaction site.
  • CD8 binding can amplify TCR-mediated ligand recognition by up to 1 million-fold.
  • Structural and biophysical parameters define CD8's role in modulating T-cell sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • Structural and biophysical insights into CD8 function are critical for understanding T-cell activation.
  • CD8's mechanism of action influences T-cell cross-reactivity and the recognition of weak antigens.
  • This collated resource provides a foundation for future research into T-cell signaling and immune responses.