Domain-Swapped T Cell Receptor (IMAGE) California Institute of Technology Caption Artist's concept of a domain-swapped T cell receptor (TCR) engaging a peptide presented by a tumor cell on a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. In TCR gene therapy, genes encoding a tumor-specific TCR are introduced to a patient's T cells, retargeting them to attack cancer cells. Swapping the constant domains between the alpha and beta chains of the tumor-specific TCR prevents these chains from mispairing with the TCR chains resident to each T cell, which can result in deleterious autoimmunity. Despite this significant structural rearrangement, domain-swapped TCRs retain function: they assemble with CD3 proteins (not depicted), traffic to the T cell surface, mediate antigen-specific T cell responses upon binding cognate peptide-MHC, and prevent tumor growth in mice. Credit Caltech Usage Restrictions With image credit. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.