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MHC class II‐dependent T–T interactions create a diverse, functional and immunoregulatory reaction circle
Author(s) -
Lee You Jeong,
Jung Kyeong Cheon,
Park Seong Hoe
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.2008.85
Subject(s) - natural killer t cell , biology , major histocompatibility complex , antigen presenting cell , cytotoxic t cell , interleukin 21 , t cell , streptamer , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , cd8 , antigen , immune system , in vitro , genetics
Unlike conventional T cells, innate‐like T cells such as natural killer (NK) T cells are selected by homotypic T‐cell interactions. Recently, a few reports have shown that T–T CD4 + T cells can be generated in a similar manner to that for NKT cells. These two types of cells share common functional properties such as rapid response to antigenic encounters and the potential for a panoply of cytokine secretion. However, T–T CD4 + T cells differ from NKT cells in that they are restricted by highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II molecules and have a diverse T‐cell receptor repertoire. Additional example of T–T interactions was recently reported in which peripheral T cells re‐circulate to the thymus and participate in the thymocyte selection process. In this review, we dissect the cellular mechanisms underlying the production of T–T CD4 + and NKT cells, with particular emphasis on the differences between these two T‐cell prototypes. Finally, we propose that T–T CD4 + T cells serve two major functions: one as an acute‐phase reactant against viral infection and the other is the generation of anti‐ergotypic CD4 + T cells for regulatory purposes. All of these features make it possible to create a diverse set of functional cells through MHC class II‐restricted T–T interactions.