B AND T CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY Flashcards
describe B cell development in the bone marrow from stem cells
stem cells… pro-b cells, pre-b cells… B cells
if B cells come into contact with antigens, what happens?
they can activate, proliferate and differentiate into memory cells and plasma cells
what do plasma cells do?
produce soluble antibodies and become long-term residents of the bone marrow
what are immunoglobulins
antibodies
what are the functions of antibodies?
recognise specific molecules, directly kill microbes, directly neutralise toxins, target phagocytes to microbes by opsonisation, regulate immune response, clear foreign antigens, involved in immunopathology and terminate the immune response
what are the 5 classes of antibody?
IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM
what makes these classes of antibodies different?
they all have different valencies (number of antibody binding sites) and different functions
what are the subclasses of IgG?
IgG1 IgG2 IgG3 IgG4
what is the valency of IgG?
2
what are the subclasses of IgA?
IgA1 and IgA2
describe the structure of an IgG?
made up of 4 polypeptide chains; 2 heavy chains and 2 light smaller chains. in each chain we have different domains. the terminal region is the antigen-binding site which recognises the epitopes.there is a hinge so the antibody is flexible.
what is an epitope?
a small number of amino acids on the antigen that is recognised by the antibody
why can different antibodies recognise different antigens?
the amino acids at the antigen binding site can change
what is affinity?
the strength of the binding action between 1 portion of an antibody and 1 antigen
what is avidity?
the overall strength of binding between the whole antibody and all antigens antigen
what is the variable region of the antibody? what is the constant region?
variable= terminal domain of the light and heavy chains constant= rest of antibody
what is the function of the constant region of an antibody?
to determine how a specific antibody will contribute to an immune response
why is it important that antibodies have a hinge?
so it can move/rotate/change shape