Journal article

T cell allorecognition and MHC restriction - A case of Jekyll and Hyde?

Julia K Archbold, Lauren K Ely, Lars Kjer-Nielsen, Scott R Burrows, Jamie Rossjohn, James McCluskey, Whitney A Macdonald

MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | Published : 2008

Abstract

A great paradox in cellular immunology is how T cell allorecognition exists at high frequencies (up to 10%) despite the stringent requirements of discriminating 'self' from 'non-self' imposed by MHC restriction. Thus, in tissue transplantation, a substantial proportion of the recipient's T cells will have the ability to recognize the graft and instigate an immune response against the transplanted tissue, ultimately resulting in graft rejection--a manifestation of T cell alloreactivity. Transplantation of human organs and lymphoid cells as treatment for otherwise life-threatening diseases has become a more routine medical procedure making this problem of great importance. Immunologists have g..

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