Intricacies of T Cell Activation and Signaling

T cell signal transduction is not a linear pathway, but involves multiple components acting as a network. Though CD8 T cells are capable of being stimulated with a brief stimulus, recent studies have brought to focus the persistence of signaling in T cells post synaptic engagement. Though these signals are not strong enough for direct detection, their effect on functional maturity of T cells is ascertained by functional assays. Different outcomes of activated T cells do exhibit a certain level of hierarchy in the order of activation and the strength of signal required for each. The intracellular signaling components seem to form modules involved in persistence of signaling in T cells. This book provides an overview of T cell activation focusing on CD8 T cells.