Multiple T-cell and immune cell surface antigens

Multiple T-cell and immune cell surface antigens refers to a diverse array of proteins expressed on the plasma membrane of T-lymphocytes and other leukocytes, including CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11a, CD18, CD25, CD44, CD45, and HLA class I and II molecules (Mohty, 2006). These antigens are fundamental to the immune system's ability to recognize foreign pathogens, transmit intracellular signals, and facilitate cell-to-cell adhesion during the immune response (StatPearls, 2023). In a therapeutic context, this collective group of antigens is targeted by polyclonal antibody preparations, such as antithymocyte globulin (ATG), which are produced by immunizing animals with human thymocytes or T-cell lines (Regateiro et al., 2020). The binding of these antibodies to multiple surface antigens results in the rapid depletion of circulating T-cells through mechanisms like complement-dependent cytotoxicity and apoptosis (PubMed, 2011). This broad-spectrum immunosuppressive approach is clinically vital for preventing and treating acute organ transplant rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Additionally, targeting these antigens is a standard treatment for severe aplastic anemia, where it helps to halt the immune-mediated destruction of hematopoietic stem cells (NIH, 2022).

Other names

T-cell surface antigensLymphocyte surface antigensThymocyte antigensT-lymphocyte antigens

Depletion of T-lymphocytes through complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and induction of apoptosis, alongside the modulation of cell surface receptors and induction of regulatory T-cells (Mohty, 2006).