Domain-Swapped T Cell Receptor (IMAGE)
Caption
Artist's concept of a domain-swapped T cell receptor (TCR) engaging a peptide presented by a tumor cell on a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. In TCR gene therapy, genes encoding a tumor-specific TCR are introduced to a patient's T cells, retargeting them to attack cancer cells. Swapping the constant domains between the alpha and beta chains of the tumor-specific TCR prevents these chains from mispairing with the TCR chains resident to each T cell, which can result in deleterious autoimmunity. Despite this significant structural rearrangement, domain-swapped TCRs retain function: they assemble with CD3 proteins (not depicted), traffic to the T cell surface, mediate antigen-specific T cell responses upon binding cognate peptide-MHC, and prevent tumor growth in mice.
Credit
Caltech
Usage Restrictions
With image credit.
License
Licensed content