Regulation of signal transduction through the T cell antigen receptor

Considerable work from numerous laboratories has provided important insights into the biology of T cell activation. Much has been learned about the most proximal signaling events that occur after engagement of the T cell antigen receptor and other cell-surface receptors on T lymphocytes. However, our understanding of how various signaling pathways are integrated, resulting in cellular proliferation and cytokine production or conversely leading to programmed cell death, is far from complete. We summarize what is now known about some of the proximal signals that result from engagement of the T cell antigen receptor and how some of these signals are linked to cellular responses.