An integrated view of suppressor T cell subsets in immunoregulation
J. Clin. Invest. Hong Jiang, et al. 114:1198 doi:10.1172/JCI23411 [Go to this article.]

Figure 2
Model of cognate interactions in the induction and function of Qa-1–restricted regulatory CD8⁺ T cells. (A) Initial activation of CD4⁺ T cell TCRs with peptide–MHC complexes induces the expression of Qa-1 bound with a variety of self-peptides on the surface of the CD4⁺ T cells. (B) Anti–Qa-1–self-peptide CD8⁺ precursor T cells are activated by Qa-1–expressing CD4⁺ T cells. The Qa-1–restricted CD8⁺ Tregs selectively downregulate certain but not all antigen-activated CD4⁺ T cells based on the specific recognition of Qa-1–self-peptide complexes expressed on certain CD4⁺ T cells by TCR αβ on the CD8⁺ T cells. In this regard, we have demonstrated in the EAE model that self-reactive CD4⁺ T cells, which are selectively downregulated by the CD8⁺ T cells, are enriched in potentially pathogenic self-reactive T cell clones (9).