Nature Immunology6, 239 - 245 (2005)
Published online: 18 February 2005; | doi:10.1038/ni1173
How T cells 'see' antigen
Michelle Krogsgaard
& Mark M Davis
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
T lymphocytes bearing T cell receptors are pivotal in the immune response of most vertebrates. For example, helper T cells orchestrate antibody production by B cells as well as stimulating other cells, whereas cytotoxic T cells kill virally infected or abnormal cells. Regulatory T cells act to dampen responsiveness, and natural killer−like T cells monitor lipid metabolism. The specificity of these cells is governed by the T cell receptors — antibody-like heterodimeric receptors that detect antigenic fragments (peptides) or lipids bound to histocompatibility molecules. Intriguing clues as to how these peculiar ligands are recognized have gradually emerged over the years and tell a remarkable story of biochemical and cellular novelty. Here we summarize some of the more recent work on T cell receptor recognition and discuss the implications for activation.
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T cell receptors are pivotal in the immune response of most vertebrates. For example, helper T cells orchestrate antibody production by B cells as well as stimulating other cells, whereas cytotoxic T cells kill virally infected or abnormal cells. Regulatory T cells act to dampen responsiveness, and natural killer−like T cells monitor lipid metabolism. The specificity of these cells is governed by the 
