Adaptive Antigen Recognition in the Immune System Flashcards
How are B Cells activated?
B Cells do not require an APC to become activated (note: b cells are APCs)
B cells recognize soluble or cell-surface associated Ags, Recognition of Ag promotes B cell activation
- NOTE: B cells, unlike T cells, can recognize non-protein Ags (fats, nucleic acids, carbohydrates)
Once B Cell is activated, it transforms into either a Plasma Cell that secretes Antibodies or a Memory Cell
Plasma cells are primarily found in lymphoid organs, not in plasma
How do T Cells become activated?
T cells are MHC restricted
T Cell is activated when TCR recognizes Ag presented by an APC within MHC
T cells recognize LINEAR PEPTIDE FRAGMENTS presented on MHCs from APCs only
What is a BCR?
B Cell Receptor
It is a Immunoglobulin (Y-shaped) molecule composed of two heavy chains (VH) and two light chains (VL)
The N terminus end of the light and heavy chains (the open end of the molecule) are highly variable
Carboxyl end of the heavy chains are within the cytosol
In a single B Cell, all the BCRs expressed on the cell surface are identical
Signaling cascade is started through the Ig-alpha and Ig-beta subunits
What is a TCR?
T Cell Receptor
N terminus of the the Alpha and Beta chains of the TCR are Highly Variable
The C Terminus end has limited variability and it is located in the cytosol
In a single T Cell, every TCR expressed on the cell surface is identical
Signaling cascade is initiated through the CD3 and Zeta chain subunits
What are some effector functions of immunoglobulins?
- Have direct anti-bacterial activity
- Reduce the damage to host from inflammatory response
- Participate in opsonization
- Neutralize toxins
- Activate the Classical Complement Pathway
Describe the structure of antibodies
Abs have a basic unit of 4 polypeptide chains
- 2 Heavy chains
- 2 light chains
Chains are held together via covalent disulfide bridges and non-covalent interactions
Both Heavy and Light chains are divided into V (variable) and C (constant) regions
V-region contains the Ag-binding site
C-Region determines the fate of the Ag
Abs can be cleaved to yield 3 fragments:
- 2 Fab fragments (Fragment Ag-binding, Fab)
- 1 Fc fragments (Fragment crystallized, Fc) - which are responsible for the effector functions
What is papain?
Papain is an enzyme responsible for proteolysis of IgG
It breaks apart IgG into 3 fragments; 2 Fab fragments, and 1 Fc fragment
Additionally, it separates the binding of Fc Receptors to Fc fragments as well as Complement Receptors from Fc fragments
What is pepsin?
Pepsin is an enzyme responsible for proteolysis of IgG
It generates a single bivalent antigen-binding fragment, F(ab)2
It does this by separating Fc fragment from the conjoined Fab fragments and destroying the Fc fragment
Essentially turns Y into V
What are the various types of immunoglobulins, and what determines their identity?
IgM, IgD, IgA, IgG, and IgE
The identity of the Heavy chain determines the identity of the immunoglobulin.
There are 5 different heavy chains that correspond to the 5 different immunoglobulins listed above
They are mu (IgM), delta (IgD), alpha (IgA), gamma (IgG), and epsilon (IgE)
What are the types of light chains?
The light chains are either kappa or lambda
Each antibody unit can have only kappa light chains or lambda light chains.
It cannot have both
What are immunoglobulin domains?
The heavy and light chains of the immunoglobulin each contain INTRAchain disulfide bridges that create polypeptide loops, aka DOMAINS
Each domain is labelled.
The Light chains have a VL (variable; light chain) domain and a CL (constant; light chain) domain
The heavy chains has a VH (variable; heavy chain) domain, followed by a series of CH chains that are increasingly numbered as they head toward the C-terminus
- CH1 (constant; heavy chain 1) domain
- CH2 (constant; heavy chain 2) domain
- etc
What is the difference between the Secreted IgG and the Membrane-Bound IgM?
Secreted IgG
- Has gamma heave chain
- Has 3 CH domains (constant; heavy chain)
- Heavy chain C-terminus ends are capped by Tail Pieces
- Has Complement and Fc binding sites on the constant heavy chain domains
Membrane IgM
- Has Mu Heavy chain
- Has 4 CH domains (constant; heavy chain)
- Has C-terminal transmembrane and cytoplasmic portions that anchor the molecule in the plasma membrane
What are hinge regions and where are they found?
Hinge regions provide flexibility to immunoglobulins. The two variable regions on the immunoglobulin are able to bind to two antigens simultaneously.
Sometimes the Ags are farther apart, sometimes theyare close together. The Hinge region allows the Ig to bind to the Ags regardless.
These hinge regions are located between the CH1 and CH2 domains
What is the function of IgA?
Mucosal immunity
What is the function of IgD?
Naive B Cell Antigen Receptor
What is the function of IgG?
- Opsonization
- Complement Activation
- Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
- Neonatal immunity
- Feedback inhibition of B Cells
What is the function of IgE?
- Defense against helminthic parasites
- Immediate hypersensitivity (anaphylaxis, type I hypersensitivity)
What is the function of IgM?
- Naive B Cell antigen receptor
- Complement activation
Which immunoglobulin has the greatest serum concentration and greatest half life?
IgG
Describe the secreted form of IgA
Can be a monomer, dimer, or a trimer
Each unit of IgA is connected to the others (in dimeric and trimeric molecules) by a J Chain
Secreted IgA unit has 3 constant, heavy chain domains on each heavy chain
Which immunoglobulin has the lowest serum concentration?
IgD
Describe the secreted form of IgG
Monomer
Contains 3 constant heavy chain domains on each heavy chain
Describe the secreted form of IgE
Monomer
Contains 4 constant heavy chain domains on each heavy chain
Describe the secreted form of IgM
Pentamer
Each of the five units have their C-termini connected to a single J chain molecule, giving it a snowflake-like appearance.
Contains 4 constant heavy chain domains on each heavy chain
How does antibody affinity for its target antigen differ during the primary response vs the memory response?
Antibody affinity during the primary response (first time body is exposed to the antigen), the affinity for the antigen is generally low
During the memory response (exposure to the antigen for the second time, or third time, or fourth time, etc) the antibody affinity for the antigen is higher (binding constant is 1000x greater)