Open AccessT Cell Repertoire: Genomic or Somatic Bias Toward Recognition of Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecules?
Author(s) -
Vidović Damir,
Boulanger Nathalie,
Guenott Jeanmarie,
Nagy Zoltan A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
hereditas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1601-5223
pISSN - 0018-0661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1997.00125.x
Subject(s) - biology , repertoire , major histocompatibility complex , t cell receptor , somatic cell , complementarity (molecular biology) , genetics , gene , evolutionary biology , t cell , immune system , physics , acoustics
The prevailing concept about a major influence of thymic positive selection on shaping the T cell repertoire during ontogeny is confronted with an old idea emphasizing a dominant role for genetic (evolutionary) factors in molding the recognition potential of mature T cells. Our recent results are not readily interpreted without introducing a new version of the old concept, according to which complementarity to the major histocompatibility complex peptide‐binding site is a major evolutionary selective pressure on T cell antigen receptor variable genes, with alloreactivity being a reflection of this fact.