Beckman et al., 1994

Abstract

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules bind immunogenic peptides and present them to lymphocytes bearing the alpha beta T-cell antigen receptor (TCR). An analogous antigen-presenting function also has been proposed for the non-MHC-encoded CD1 molecules, a family of non-polymorphic, beta 2-microglobulin-associated glycoproteins expressed on most professional antigen-presenting cells. In support of this hypothesis, CD1 molecules are recognized by selected CD4-CD8- alpha beta or gamma delta TCR+ T-cell clones, and we have recently shown that CD1 molecules restrict the recognition of foreign microbial antigens by alpha beta TCR+ T cells. But the substantial structural divergence of CD1 from MHC class I and class II molecules, raises the possibility that the antigens pr…