6. Adaptive Antigen Recognition in the Immune System Flashcards
Since the TCR must bind to MHC to function, what counts as being self reactive for T Cells?
When both the TCR and the CD28 of the immature T Cell are engaged in binding to the mTEC
What contributes most of the serum IgM during the initial stages of infection?
B-1 Cells
Where are immature B-1 cells sent?
Into the peripheral tissues
What subset are most B Cells derived from fetal liver stem cells sorted into?
B-1 lineage
What two things does “avidity” of an antibody take into account?
Affinity of an antibody for its antigen
Valence of the antibody and antigen (how many binding sites are available on both the antibody and antigen, eg. IgM has 10 binding sites)
Where are immature B-2 cells sent?
Into the spleen to continue developing into mature B Cells
What changes in the production of secreted antibodies vs membrane bound antibodies?
Alternative splicing results in a secreted antibody that lacks a intercalating region for the plasma membrane
What determines whether a mature T Cell will present CD4 or CD8?
Initially they present both, then they interact by chance with either MHC I or MHC II in the Thymus. Whichever it contacts will be the associated CDx they preserve. (Eg. if it contacts MHC II CD4 will be preserved.)
What heavy chains are associated with each of the classes of antibodies?
IgD = Delta heavy chain
IgM = Mu
IgA = Alpha
IgG = Gamma
IgE = Epsilon
What is the total potential “repertoire” for BCR’s vs TCR’s?
BCR: 1011
TCR: 1016
TCRs are capable of interacting with a larger number of specific epitopes
What is the benefit of IgM having lower affinity than IgG?
IgM is able to recognize a wider range of epitopes, whereas IgG is more specific
What does papain do to antibodies?
Cleaves them at the heavy chain above the hinge region.
What is the primary mechanism of epitope specific diversity of BCR and TCRs?
DNA Chromosomal Rearrangement via Rag1 and Rag2 recombination enzymes
What compound is used to help fuse immunized mouse splenocytes with myeloma cells?
Polyethylene glycol
Where does T Cell negative selection occur, and by what cell type?
Occurs in the medulla (stroma)
Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells (mTECs)
Why are B1 cells less diverse than B2 cells?
Because TdT is not expressed in the fetal liver, and as a result, we don’t get N regions added, and there is no junctional diversity.
What enzyme is responsible for adding additional variablility to the BCR or TCR after VDJ recombination through the addition of N regions?
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase
On which chromosome do we find TCR beta?
Chromosome 7
TCRs have CD3 and zeta subunits with ITAMs to assist in intracellular signaling, what do BCRs have?
Immunoglobulin beta and alpha with ITAMs
(IGb IGa)
What two types of light chains are there?
Kappa and Lambda
Which subset of B Cells require T Cells to respond to an antigen?
Follicular B-2 Cells
What class or classes of immunoglobulins are expressed by every naive mature B Cell?
IgM and IgD
What motif do we see in the intracellular domains of the TCR and BCR complexes?
ITAMs
(Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Activation Motif)
If a B Cell is found to react to a self antigen, but does not yet need to go through apoptosis, what mechanism can it go through instead?
Light chain rearrangement
(Called receptor editing)
Which interleukin is essential for proliferation of the earliest lymphocytes?
IL-7
What subset of cells produce “natural antibodies?”
B-1 Cells