Antigens and Antigen-Presenting Molecules for γδ T Cells

Abstract

The T cell receptor (TCR) γδ is expressed on a distinct subset of T cells (Brenner et al., 1986). Unlike the TCR αβ, little is known about γδ T cell recognition. TCR α and ß and TCR γ and δ genes are assembled during development by recombination of distinct gene segments (V, D, J). While the germline gene segment repertoire for both TCR γ and δ chains is small compared to the TCR αß, extensive junctional diversity is observed particularly in the TCR δ chain (reviewed in Brenner et al. 1988). The diversity resides in a region presumed to form the CDR3 homolog of the immunoglobulin molecule considered important in antigen recognition (Davis and Bjorkman, 1988). These structural features of the γδ TCR suggest a role for T cells bearing this receptor in specific antigen recognition.KeywordsUmbilical Cord BloodMycobacterial AntigenJunctional DiversityEpithelial Cell SheetMurine Lymph NodeThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.