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Soluble extracellular antigen‐specific T cell immunoproteins
Author(s) -
Cone Robert E.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.59.5.605
Subject(s) - antigen , biology , immunogen , t cell receptor , epitope , major histocompatibility complex , t cell , antigen presenting cell , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular , immune system , antigen presentation , immunology , antibody , monoclonal antibody
Abstract Some T cells release proteins that bind specifically to antigens that have not been processed by antigen‐presenting cells. These soluble immunoproteins induce or effect antigen‐specific T cell functions in immunoregulation and/or hypersensitivity. After certain immunization regimens, T cell immunoproteins specific for the immunogen rise in serum, and therefore may be an antigen‐specific, humoral manifestation of the activation of some T cells during an immune response. Although non‐MHC (major histocompatibility complex)‐associated antigen is bound, soluble antigen‐specific T cell immunoproteins share variable and constant region epitopes and some amino acid sequence with the T cell receptor for antigen α or β chains, and their expression depends on T cell receptor structural genes. Herein, the properties of extracellular antigen‐specific T cell immunoproteins are reviewed and it is suggested that these molecules are a soluble analogue of the T cell receptor for antigen and provide an amplifying element for some T cell functions.