Figure 2.

Length of interaction alters the activation of specific transcription factors. (A) Schematic diagram denoting the major signaling molecules involved in the T cell activation process upon stimulation of the TCR by cognate pMHCII, leading to the differential activation of downstream transcription factors based on signal strength and interaction times. (B) Short-term interactions induce a subset of default pathway of fast-acting transcription factors, which preferentially activate Th2-associated genes. Interaction for a longer period of time induces both default pathway-associated transcription factors and additionally allows for the induction of Th1-specific transcription factor activation, which are able to override the default Th2-inducing signal and skew the response toward the differentiation of a Th1 subset.