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T cell receptor (TCR) binding to diverse peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) ligands results in various degrees of T cell activation. Here we analyze which binding properties of the TCR-pMHC interaction are responsible for this variation in pMHC activation potency. We have analyzed activation of the 1G4 cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone by cognate pMHC variants and performed thorough correlation analysis of T cell activation with 1G4 TCR-pMHC binding properties measured in solution. We found that both the on rate (k(on)) and off rate (k(off)) contribute to activation potency. Based on our results, we propose a model in which rapid TCR rebinding to the same pMHC after chemical dissociation increases the effective half-life or "confinement time" of a TCR-pMHC interaction. This confinement time model clarifies the role of k(on) in T cell activation and reconciles apparently contradictory reports on the role of TCR-pMHC binding kinetics and affinity in T cell activation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.immuni.2009.11.013

Type

Journal article

Journal

Immunity

Publication Date

26/02/2010

Volume

32

Pages

163 - 174

Keywords

Clone Cells, Cytotoxicity, Immunologic, HLA-A2 Antigen, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Lymphocyte Activation, Models, Immunological, Neoplasm Proteins, Peptide Fragments, Protein Binding, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Surface Plasmon Resonance, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, Time Factors, Transfection