Giuseppe
Emeritus
Evolving concepts of specificity in immune reactions (PNAS, abstract, edited)
[Source: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, full text: <cite cite="http://www.pnas.org/content/107/52/22373.short?rss=1">Evolving concepts of specificity in immune reactions ? PNAS</cite>. Abstract, edited.]
Evolving concepts of specificity in immune reactions
1. Herman N. Eisen a,b,c,1 and 2. Arup K. Chakraborty c,d,e,f
Author Affiliations
1. a Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and
2. Departments of b Biology,
3. d Chemical Engineering,
4. e Chemistry, and
5. f Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139; and
6. c Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Boston, MA 02129
1. Edited by Emil R. Unanue, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, and approved November 8, 2010 (received for review August 16, 2010)
Abstract
Our goal is to provide a perspective on current understanding of the origins of specificity in immune reactions, a topic that has intrigued scientists for over a century. A fundamental property of adaptive immune responses is the ability to discriminate among an immense variety of substances by means of antibodies (Abs) and Ab-like receptors on T lymphocytes [T-cell receptors (TCRs)], each able to bind a particular chemical structure [the antigen (Ag)] and not, or only weakly, similar alternatives. Evidence has long existed, however, and has grown, especially recently, that while exhibiting remarkable specificity, many individual Abs and TCRs can also bind a variety of very different ligands. How can Ag recognition by these receptors exercise the great specificity for which they are renowned and yet react with a variety of different ligands (degeneracy)? We critically consider the mechanistic bases for this specificity/degeneracy enigma and also compare and contrast Ag recognition by Abs and TCRs.
* T cells
* peptide?MHC complexes
* receptor?ligand interactions
* antibody isomerism
Footnotes
* 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hneisen@mit.edu.
* Author contributions: H.N.E. and A.K.C. wrote the paper.
* The authors declare no conflict of interest.
* This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
-
------<cite cite="http://www.pnas.org/content/107/52/22373.short?rss=1"></cite>
[Source: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, full text: <cite cite="http://www.pnas.org/content/107/52/22373.short?rss=1">Evolving concepts of specificity in immune reactions ? PNAS</cite>. Abstract, edited.]
Evolving concepts of specificity in immune reactions
1. Herman N. Eisen a,b,c,1 and 2. Arup K. Chakraborty c,d,e,f
Author Affiliations
1. a Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and
2. Departments of b Biology,
3. d Chemical Engineering,
4. e Chemistry, and
5. f Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139; and
6. c Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Boston, MA 02129
1. Edited by Emil R. Unanue, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, and approved November 8, 2010 (received for review August 16, 2010)
Abstract
Our goal is to provide a perspective on current understanding of the origins of specificity in immune reactions, a topic that has intrigued scientists for over a century. A fundamental property of adaptive immune responses is the ability to discriminate among an immense variety of substances by means of antibodies (Abs) and Ab-like receptors on T lymphocytes [T-cell receptors (TCRs)], each able to bind a particular chemical structure [the antigen (Ag)] and not, or only weakly, similar alternatives. Evidence has long existed, however, and has grown, especially recently, that while exhibiting remarkable specificity, many individual Abs and TCRs can also bind a variety of very different ligands. How can Ag recognition by these receptors exercise the great specificity for which they are renowned and yet react with a variety of different ligands (degeneracy)? We critically consider the mechanistic bases for this specificity/degeneracy enigma and also compare and contrast Ag recognition by Abs and TCRs.
* T cells
* peptide?MHC complexes
* receptor?ligand interactions
* antibody isomerism
Footnotes
* 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hneisen@mit.edu.
* Author contributions: H.N.E. and A.K.C. wrote the paper.
* The authors declare no conflict of interest.
* This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
-
------<cite cite="http://www.pnas.org/content/107/52/22373.short?rss=1"></cite>