Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9899
ISSN: 2155-9899
Daniel E Speiser
Switzerland
Review Article
Signaling Mechanisms that Balance Anti-viral, Auto-reactive, and Antitumor Potential of Low Affinity T Cells
Author(s): Michael Hebeisen, Nathalie Rufer, Susanne Oberle, Daniel E Speiser and Dietmar ZehnMichael Hebeisen, Nathalie Rufer, Susanne Oberle, Daniel E Speiser and Dietmar Zehn
T cells protect us from a large number of infectious diseases. Several lines of evidence indicate that T cells can also eliminate malignant cells and alter the progression of tumors. These two types of immune responses were traditionally viewed to involve different types or qualities of T cells. Pathogen-specific immune responses were thought to be predominantly mediated by T cells bearing high affinity T cell receptors (TCRs) specific for microbial-derived antigens. In contrast, anti-tumor immunity or autoimmune diseases normally involve TCRs with intermediate-to-low affinity to self-antigens, and lower affinity T cells are believed to have severely reduced effector T cell potential. However, recent findings illustrate that the repertoire of pathogen-specific T cells is more diverse than previously considered and that significant numbers of differentiated and fully functional lower a.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2155-9899.S12-003