Abstract
The T-cell receptor (TCR) functions in both antigen recognition and signal transduction, which are crucial initial steps of antigen-specific immune responses. TCR integrity is vital for the induction of optimal and efficient immune responses, including the routine elimination of invading pathogens and the elimination of modified cells and molecules. Of the TCR subunits, the ζ-chain has a key role in receptor assembly, expression and signalling. Downregulation of TCR ζ-chain expression and impairment of T-cell function have been shown for T cells isolated from hosts with various chronic pathologies, including cancer, and autoimmune and infectious diseases. This review summarizes studies of the various pathologies that show this phenomenon and provides new insights into the mechanism responsible for downregulation of ζ-chain expression, its relevance and its clinical implications.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 675-687 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Nature Reviews Immunology |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2004 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:I gratefully acknowledge the support of the Society of Research Associates of the Lautenberg Center, New York, United States, the Concern Foundation of Los Angeles, United States, and the Harold B. Abramson Chair in Immunology, Jerusalem, Israel. This study was supported by The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and by The Joseph and Matilda Melnick fund Houston, United States.
