Biomaterial Database

A high affinity T cell receptor? 1996

S Alberti

Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy.

T cell receptors (TCR) have a low affinity for the MHC and the presented peptides (MHCpep). The low affinity of the TCR is crucial in T cell recognition and activation. Nevertheless, I propose that the TCR is perfectly capable of specifically binding MHCpep with high affinity. This hypothesis is supported by several data. Among them, the frequency of negatively selected immature T cells and of high affinity alloreactive T cells. Structural and functional analysis indicates that the TCR binding regions are quite similar to those of immunoglobulins. This implies similar binding strategies and suggests that there are no structural constraints on TCR affinity. The possible existence of high affinity TCR is relevant for current views on immune recognition, alloreactivity and peptide antagonism. In particular, it supports a model of immune recognition as unselected higher affinity binding to newly encountered peptides. The actual production of specific affinity TCR may also prove crucial for a soluble T cell receptor-based immunotherapy and for the co-crystallization of TCR with MHC and peptides.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011948	Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell	Molecules on the surface of T-lymphocytes that recognize and combine with antigens. The receptors are non-covalently associated with a complex of several polypeptides collectively called CD3 antigens (CD3 COMPLEX). Recognition of foreign antigen and the major histocompatibility complex is accomplished by a single heterodimeric antigen-receptor structure, composed of either alpha-beta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, ALPHA-BETA) or gamma-delta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, GAMMA-DELTA) chains.	Antigen Receptors, T-Cell,T-Cell Receptors,Receptors, T-Cell Antigen,T-Cell Antigen Receptor,T-Cell Receptor,Antigen Receptor, T-Cell,Antigen Receptors, T Cell,Receptor, T-Cell,Receptor, T-Cell Antigen,Receptors, T Cell Antigen,Receptors, T-Cell,T Cell Antigen Receptor,T Cell Receptor,T Cell Receptors,T-Cell Antigen Receptors
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia