TCR tuning of T cell subsets

• Published in: Immunological reviews 2018-05, Vol.283 (1), p.129-137
• Main Authors: Cho, Jae‐Ho, Sprent, Jonathan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autoimmunity; CD45; CD5; CD5 Antigens - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cell recognition; Histocompatibility Antigens - immunology; Histocompatibility Antigens - metabolism; Humans; Immunological memory; Ligands; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Major histocompatibility complex; major histocompatibility complex molecules; Memory cells; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - genetics; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - metabolism; self‐peptides; Signal Transduction; Signaling; T cell receptor; T cell receptors; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; TCR tuning; Thymocytes - cytology; Thymocytes - immunology; Thymocytes - metabolism; Thymus
• ISSN: 0105-2896; 1600-065X
• DOI: 10.1111/imr.12646

Summary After selection in the thymus, the post‐thymic T cell compartments comprise heterogenous subsets of naive and memory T cells that make continuous T cell receptor (TCR) contact with self‐ligands bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. T cell recognition of self‐MHC ligands elicits covert TCR signaling and is particularly important for controlling survival of naive T cells. Such tonic TCR signaling is tightly controlled and maintains the cells in a quiescent state to avoid autoimmunity. Here, we review how naive and memory T cells are differentially tuned and wired for TCR sensitivity to self and foreign ligands.