Abstract
The diversity of antigen receptors and the specificity it underlies are the hallmarks of the cellular arm of the adaptive immune system. T and B lymphocytes are indeed truly unique in their ability to generate receptors capable of recognizing virtually any pathogen. It has been known for several decades that T lymphocytes recognize short peptides derived from degraded proteins presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules at the cell surface. Interaction between peptide-MHC (pMHC) and the T cell receptor (TCR) is central to both thymic selection and peripheral antigen recognition. It is widely assumed that TCR diversity is required, or at least highly desirable, to provide sufficient immune coverage. However, a number of immune responses are associated with the selection of predictable, narrow, or skewed repertoires and public TCR chains. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the formation of the TCR repertoire and its maintenance in health and disease. We also outline the various molecular mechanisms that govern the composition of the pre-selection, naive and antigen-specific TCR repertoires. Finally, we suggest that with the development of high-throughput sequencing, common TCR ‘signatures’ raised against specific antigens could provide important diagnostic biomarkers and surrogate predictors of disease onset, progression and outcome.
Via Krishan Maggon
Cellular & Molecular Immunology advance online publication 26 January 2015; doi: 10.1038/cmi.2014.134
αβ T cell receptors as predictors of health and disease
Open
Meriem Attaf1, Eric Huseby2 and Andrew K Sewell1
1Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK2Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
Correspondence: Professor A.K. Sewell, Division of Infection and Immunity Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK. E-mail:sewellak@cardiff.ac.uk
Received 16 December 2014; Accepted 17 December 2014
Advance online publication 26 January 2015