Tracking synapse-associated TCRs

TCRs alive on the periphery

TCRs alive on the periphery eeping T cell receptors (TCRs) away from the center of the immunological synapse boosts stimulatory stignals, based on work from The immunological synapse—the cell–cell junction between a T cell and antigen-presenting cell (APC)—looks like a bull's eye, with a central cluster of TCRs and their bound antigen–MHC ligands surrounded by a ring of adhesion molecules and t...

A novel synapse-associated noncoding RNA.

Synaptic nuclei of innervated muscle transcribe acetylcholine receptor (AChR) genes at a much higher level than extrasynaptic nuclei. To isolate candidate synaptic regulatory molecules responsible for the unique transcriptional potential of synaptic nuclei, we have taken a subtractive hybridization approach. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of a novel synapse-associated RNA, 7H4...

Diverse TCRs recognize murine CD1.

Human and murine T cells that specifically recognize CD1d and produce IL-4 and IFN-gamma play a role in immunoregulation and tumor rejection. In the mouse, most CD1d1-reactive T cells described express an invariant Valpha14-Jalpha281 TCR associated with TCR beta-chains of limited diversity. Similarly, human CD1d-reactive T cells express a highly restricted TCR repertoire. Here we report the une...

Cutting Edge: Dueling TCRs: Peptide

Cooperative activation of TCRs by enterotoxin superantigens.

Staphylococcus enterotoxin superantigens are potent T cell activators. To gain new insights into the mechanism of T cell activation induced by these superantigens, we investigated the recruitment of signaling molecules in this process. Here, we show that enterotoxin superantigen activation can be transmitted to TCR-CD3 complexes that did not interact with their ligand. Indeed, by studying cells...