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Updated: May 6, 2026

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries
Published on: January 22, 2019
T cell responses to drugs and drug metabolites
C J Earnshaw1, T Pecaric-Petkovic, B K Park
1Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Research Council Centre for Drug Safety Science, University of Liverpool, Sherrington Building, Ahston Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK, C.Earnshaw@liverpool.ac.uk.
Abstract:
Understanding the chemical mechanisms by which drugs and drug metabolites interact with cells of the immune system is pivotal to our knowledge of drug hypersensitivity as a whole.In this chapter, we will discuss the currently accepted mechanisms where there is scientific and clinical evidence to support the ways in which drugs and their metabolites interact with T cells. We will also discuss bioanalytical platforms, such as mass spectrometry, and in vitro test assays such as the lymphocyte transformation test that can be used to study drug hypersensitivity; the combination of such techniques can be used to relate the chemistry of drug antigen formation to immune function. Ab initio T cell priming assays are also discussed with respect to predicting the potential of a drug to cause hypersensitivity reactions in humans in relation to the chemistry of the drug and its ability to form haptens, antigens and immunogens in patients.
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