免疫系の抗原認識と特異性

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Both innate and acquired immunity are indispensable for human beings to survive. Acquired immunity is mediated by lymphocytes that possess antigen receptors on their cell surfaces, and are roughly divided into two populations, T cells and B cells. Although their biological roles are distinct, the structures of ligand binding sites of the receptors share characteristics in a great extent. One binding site comprises heterodimeric protein subunits, and 6 discontinuous sites in the protein primary structures, termed complementarity determining regions, take part in making it up. Therefore, the tertiary and quaternary structures of the receptor proteins play critical roles for the antigen-binding capacity. Structural and functional complementarity between the surfaces of receptor and antigen is required for the specific binding. In response to a protein antigen, T cells recognize oligopeptidic fragments of the protein bound to the self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. The peptide-MHC complex is provided by antigen-presenting cells (APC), including several different types of cells. Thus, T cells can not react to any structures of the protein itself, whereas B cells can recognize surface structures of the protein. A harmonized collaboration among the three types of cells is required for the progression of humoral immune response. Finally, importance of higher order structures of proteins for the B cell epitopes is discussed, as to the immunodominancy.
鹿児島大学の論文
1999-03-25

免疫系の抗原認識と特異性

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