Divergent changes in the sensitivity of maturing T cells to structurally related ligands underlies formation of a useful T cell repertoire
Divergent changes in the sensitivity of maturing T cells to structurally related ligands underlies formation of a useful T cell repertoire
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DOI:
10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80036-9
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发表时间:
1999-03-01
期刊:
影响因子:
32.4
通讯作者:
Germain, RN
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Lucas, B;Stefanová, I;Germain, RN
CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocyte differentiation requires TCR signaling induced by self-peptide/MHC ligands. Nevertheless, the resulting mature T cells are not activated by these self-complexes, whereas foreign ligands can be potent stimuli. Here, we show that the signaling properties of TCR change during thymocyte maturation, differentially affecting responses to related peptide/MHC molecule complexes and contributing to this discrimination. Weak agonists for CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes lose potency during development, accompanied by a change in TCR-associated phosphorylation from an agonist to a partial agonist/antagonist pattern. in contrast, sensitivity to strong agonists is maintained, along with full signaling. This yields a mature T cell pool highly responsive to foreign antigen while possessing a wide margin of safety against activation by self-ligands.