Further Research

Further research possibilities:

• The discussed paper involves a CD4-MHC interaction and any conclusions about CD8-MHC interactions can only be preliminary. The methods used in this paper might become useful for conducting similar research involving CD8 molecules. A particular point of interest involves flexibility: The geometry of CD8 is generally considered less constrained than that of CD4, however CD8 is has multiple sites of O-glycosylation, and there is eveidence showing that O-glycosylation can stiffen CD8.
• Gaining a more detailed understanding of TCR complex and it's interactions would prove useful in the therapeutic field as the TCR complex is a powerful therapeutic target for modulating immunity, and might thus prove very important for transplant medicine. Recently, a number of studies have proven that SMIPs , the TCR/CD3 directed molecules are beneficial in mouse models of disease such as acute graft vs host disease. They have been associated with significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vivo and also no adverse clinical symptoms.