DIFFERENTIAL SIGNALING THROUGH THE T-CELL RECEPTOR - FROM BIOCHEMISTRY TO TRANSPLANTATION TOLERANCE

Recent advances in our understanding of the structural nature of T cel l activation and signal transduction from the T cell receptor for anti gen make possible the development of new tolerogenic strategies. Here, we summarize the evidence supporting a critical role for the co-recep tor molecule (CD4 or CD8) and CD45 in determining the pattern of T cel l receptor-mediated signaling. The consequences of this differential s ignaling can range from T cell proliferation and cytokine production t o the establishment of a state of proliferative unresponsiveness known as T cell anergy. Inducing T cell anergy can be an alternative approa ch for the establishment of transplantation tolerance.