Role of the CD8-Heparan Sulfate Interaction in CD8+ T cell Development and Function

免疫系统可以识别大量的外来病原体，而不会对自身成分产生反应。要做到这一点，T细胞（免疫的主要介质）必须在胸腺中发育时能够耐受自身分子。我们已经确定了T细胞上一种称为CD8的分子与一种称为硫酸乙酰肝素的复杂碳水化合物之间的新型相互作用，这种相互作用有助于在胸腺中消除自身反应性T细胞。该项目的目的是进一步研究这一现象。

The immune system can recognise a large array of foreign pathogens without reacting to self-components. For this to occur T cells, the main mediators of immunity, must be made to tolerate self-molecules as they develop in the thymus. We have identified a novel interaction between a molecule called CD8 on T cells and a complex carbohydrate called heparan-sulfate, which helps auto-reactive T cells to be eliminates in the thymus. The aim of this project is to further investigate this phenomenon.