Recognition of HLA class II Molecules by Functional Human T-Lymphocyte Clones (TLC’s)

Abstract

It is generally accepted that class II molecules are in fact Ir gene products. From a multitude of studies which began over a decade ago it can now be argued that class II molecules are somehow involved in controlling or influencing the specificity of T-cell recognition. Remaining unclear, however, is the relationship between T-cell specificity and function. That is, the question of whether particular class II gene products determine discrete immunological functions such as help or suppression has yet to be answered. Because experimental work in the mouse has so profoundly influenced immunological concepts applied to man, I would like to present first a brief overview of our current understanding of murine and human Ir gene function before framing an alternative hypothesis regarding the functional control of the human immune system by class II molecules.