Adaptive Immune Response - T Cells Flashcards
When are T cells induced into the immune response?
After inflammatory and innate response starts to control pathogens
Why do virally infected cells need to be removed? (2)
- Stop virus creating more virus particles
- Stop infection of neighbouring cells
What does the first green bell curve in a viral infection graph represent?
Innate production of interferons (IFN)
What does the second blue bell curve in the viral infection graph represent?
Innate NK-mediated killing
What does the final red curve that starts increasing from 2 days into viral infection a viral infection graph show?
Adaptive B cell and T cell responses
When does virus load remain constant? (2)
- During innate production of interferons
- During innte NK mediated killing
When does virus load start decreasing?
During adaptive B cell and T cell response
Where are T lymphocytes produced?
Bone marrow
Where do T lymphocytes mature?
Thymus
What happens to T lymphocytes in the thymus?
- Thymic education
- Learn to distinguish self from non self
- Only respond to foreign antigens
What is the result of errors in thymic education?
Autoimmunity
What type of mechanisms are in place to prevent errors in thymic education and subsequent autoimmunity?
Peripheral
What happens to T lymphocytes after thymic education?
Enter circulation as non self reactive T cells
What do T lymphocytes do in circulation?
Work with B cells to provide different types of immune response
What is the type of immunity T lymphocytes provide alongside B cells governed by? (2)
- Innate factors microorganism alerts
- Signals macrophages give to other cells
Label the lymph node diragram
See Morgan lecture and histology lecture
What is the main type of antigen presenting cell? (APC)
Dendritic cell
What do dendritic cells do? (2)
- Process big antigens into small fragments to present to MHC molecules
- Interact with other cells to produce cytokines
What is the purpose of the dendrites on dendritic cells while they are precursors taking up antigens?
Project out to grab microbe fragments, pull them inside to capture antigen
What can dendrites do on dendritic cells to increase capture of antigens even when no overt infection/inflammation?
Extend processes through tight epithelia junctions
What properties of dendritic cells make them ideal for their function? (2)
- Large surface area
- Multiple dendrites
Why do dendritic cells have a high surface area?
Numerous cytoplasmic processes
Why do dendritic cells need to have a high surface area?
Need contact with a large number of surrounding cells e.g T cells, NK cells, neutrophils, epithelial cells
Where dendritic precursors found?
Bone marrow
What do dendritic precursors do before infection?
- Migrate from bone marrow through bloodstream to non lymphoid tissue
- Immature state
- Take up fragments of microbes
What 3 ways do dendritic precursors before infection take up fragments of microbes in tissues?
- Phagocytosis
- Pinocytosis
- Endocytosis
What is pinocytosis?
Small particles suspended in extracellular fluid are brought into the cell by the budding of small vesicles from the cell membrane
What do dendritic precursors do during pathogen invasion? (8)
- Migrate to lymphoid tissue through chemotaxis
- On the way:
1) Differentiate and become active - no more antigen capturing
2) Process antigens into smaller fragments
3) Secrete pro inflammatory cytokines - To cross epithelium of afferent lymphatic vessels, become round veiled cells, losing dendrites
- Reach subcapsular sinus of lymph nodes, regain dendrites to become interdigitating dendritic cell
- Move to T cell zone
- Present antigens to MHC molecules on T (and B) cells
What is the purpose of the dendrites on dendritic cells when they are presenting antigens?
Lymphocytes crawl over dendrites looking for microbial antigens
Why do immune system cells look similar?
Genes encoding them sit close together on chromosomes
What do all immune system cells show in terms of structure?
- Homogeneity
- Conservatism
Where do antigens bind to T cells?
Immunoglobulin like antigen receptor (T cell receptor - TCR)
Where is the TCR found on a T cell?
Cell surface at proximal end of molecule
How can the TCR recognise antigens? (2)
- Small peptide antigen fragments
- Presented by MHC molecules
What does MHC stand for?
Major histocompatibility complex
What are MHC molecules often referred to in humans?
Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA)
What are the two classes of MHC molecule?
Class I
Class II
What are MHC molecules expressed as?
Co-dominants
What does it mean that MHC molecules are expressed as co-dominants?
Each individual can express 2 different forms of each product (maternal and paternal)
How many different MHC class I molecules and class II molecules can each individual express?
6 of each class
What creates diversity in the varieties of MHC molecules? (2)
- Many different regions of the MHC complex code for different varieties of class I and II
- MHC molecules expressed as co-dominants
Why is it important for there to be a huge diversity in the number of MHC molecules?
So many different types of antigen fragments can be presented to T cells
What are MHC molecules expressed by?
Antigen presenting cells
What regions code for MHC class I molecules? (3)
- B
- C
- A
What regions code for MHC class II molecules? (3)
- DP
- DQ
- DR
What MHC molecule subtype does the DP region code for?
DP alpha beta
What MHC molecule subtype does the DQ region code for?
DQ alpha beta
What MHC molecule subtype does the DR region code for?
DR alpha beta
What MHC molecule subtype does the B region code for?
HLA-B
What MHC molecule subtype does the C region code for?
HLA-C
What MHC molecule subtype does the A region code for?
HLA-A
What does the TCR not bind to?
Free floating/soluble antigens
What size of peptide fragments do MHC class I molecules present?
6-16 amino acid residues
What type of cells express MHC class I molecules? Give 3 exceptions.
All nucleated cells except
- Neurones
- Sperm cells
- Certain placenta cells
What type of cells express MHC class II molecules? Give 3 examples.
Antigen presenting cells
- Dendritic cells
- B cells
- Macrophages
What size of peptide fragments do MHC class II molecules present?
Larger - 30+ amino acid residues
What are the 2 types of antigen?
- Endogenous
- Exogenous