7 - Adapt 1: Antigen Recognition Flashcards
The adaptive immune system is capable of distinguishing how many antigens/epitopes?
Millions
Which immune response is specific?
Adaptive
The adaptive response relies on ____ of receptors on T lymphocytes.
pre-existing diversity
How many antigen receptors are expressed on each clone?
Only one specific antigen receptor.
How many antigen receptors are expressed on lymphocytes as a population?
> 5 x 10^7 different antigen receptors
The acquired immune response relies on ____ and ____ of clones that express the antigen receptors that can bind the specific relevant antigen.
selection and expansion
What are the four basic elements of clonal selection theory?
- Selection - Antigen selects pre-existing cell surface receptor made by a single cell.
- Clones - Selection of a precursor gives rise to clones that all make the same receptor.
- Origin of receptor genes - Randomized receptor that is subject to mutation that is transmitted by somatic inheritance to all descendants.
- Self/nonself - Self-reactive cells are killed upon interaction with self antigen early in life.
What is an antigen?
Any molecule that can be recognized by the adaptive immune system (ex. can be bound by a T cell receptor).
What do antigens bind to?
Both MHC molecules and TCRs.
What is an immunogen?
Something that initiates an immune response.
Most immunogens are …
proteins.
(Pure proteins, lipoproteins, or glycoproteins).
In general, proteins are very good…
immunogens.
List the 5 properties of antigens.
- Foreignness
- Molecular size
- Chemical nature and composition
- Physical form
- Degradability
Describe how foreignness is a property of antigens.
An antigen must be a foreign substance. Autologous (self antigens) are ordinarily not immunogenic, but under certain circumstances may act as auto-antigens. Not all foreign things are immunogenic.
Describe how molecular size is a property of antigens.
Active immunogens have high a molecular mass (>14kDa).
E.g., tetanus toxoid, egg albumin, thyroglobulin are highly antigenic. Insulin (5.7kDa) is either non-antigenic or weakly antigenic.
Under what circumstance might self-antigens become immunogenic?
Thyroglobulin (don’t ask how this is all it said).
Describe how chemical nature is a property of antigens.
The more chemically complex and organic the substance is, the more immunogenic it will be (mainly proteins).
Describe how physical form is a property of antigens.
Particulate antigens are more immunogenic than soluble ones.
Denatured antigens are more immunogenic than the native form.
Describe how degradability is a property of antigens.
Antigens that are easily phagocytosed or degraded (proteases) are more immunogenic.
E.g., T-dependent antigen requires to be phagocytosed, processed and presented to helper T cells by APC.
How do T cells see pathogens?
T cells can only “see” antigens in the context of other cells. They interact with other cells (infected cells, B cells, and phagocytes) and recognize pathogen-derived antigens in the context of MHC molecules with antigen specific receptors.
What cells do not express MHC?
Red blood cells.
Describe the peptide binding region of class I and II MHC molecules.
The peptide binding region exhibits polymorphism, meaning there is lots of variation in the peptide sequence.
How many allelic variants of MHC are there in humans?
Several hundred, one copy is inherited from each parent.
How many class I MHC molecules are expressed per person?
Up to 6
How many class II MHC molecules are expressed per person?
About 12
How does the limited group of MHC molecules present the vast diverse array of possible antigen peptide fragments?
A given MHC molecule can bind numerous different peptides, and some peptides can bind to several different MHC molecules.
Also gene polymorphism.