Computer analysis of receptor-mediated endocytosis and exocytosis mechanisms: two pathways for the processing of TCR-CD3 receptor complexes of T lymphocytes.

A new mathematical model, based on a hypothesis in which two types of molecular complex which differ in their processing rate are involved in ligand binding at the cell surface, is proposed for the processing of ligand-receptor complexes. The model describes the kinetics of anti-human-CD3 monoclonal antibody endocytosis, exocytosis, and degradation by both normal and malignant T lymphocytes. The rates for the individual stages of processing of these ligand-receptor complexes are evaluated.