Specialized motor proteins help control immune activation
Friday, October 7, 2011 - 09:30
in Health & Medicine
Specialized immune cells called T cells can recognize threats and induce immune responses through T cell receptors (TCRs), but these receptors do not act alone. Multiple receptors gather together at the cell surface to cooperatively switch on T cells. The minimum unit for triggering T lymphocyte activation is known as the TCR microcluster [TCR-MC], explains Takashi Saito of the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology in Yokohama. These are the key structure for T cells to recognize antigens and become activated.
