Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The CD8 co-receptor is important in the differentiation and selection of class I MHC-restricted T cells during thymic development, and in the activation of mature T lymphocytes in response to antigen. Here we show that soluble CD8alphaalpha receptor, despite an extremely low affinity for MHC, inhibits activation of cytotoxic lymphocytes by obstructing CD3 zeta-chain phosphorylation. We propose a model for this effect that involves interference of productive receptor multimerization at the T-cell surface. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of T-cell activation and evidence that CD8 function is exquisitely sensitive to disruption, an effect that might be exploited by molecular therapeutics.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/7398

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Med

Publication Date

04/1999

Volume

5

Pages

399 - 404

Keywords

CD3 Complex, CD8 Antigens, Dimerization, Histocompatibility Antigens Class I, Ligands, Lymphocyte Activation, Major Histocompatibility Complex, Models, Immunological, Peptides, Phosphorylation, Protein Conformation, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Signal Transduction, Solubility, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic