B cells and antibody production Flashcards
whats the basic structure of Ab?
- 2 identical light chains Constant and variable domains (VLCL). Encoded by rearranging variable, joining and constant elements (VLJLCL)
- 2 identical heavy chains Constant and variable domains (CHVH). Encoded by rearranging variable, joining, diversity and constant elements (VHDHJHCH)
what are antibodies?
Soluble plasma proteins
Monomers, dimers or pentamers
ISOTYPE - IgA IgD IgE IgG IgM
Effector functions: fix complement - neutralise - block - opsonise - interact with cells etc.
what are B cell antigen receptors?
- Cell surface-bound Ig of any isotype.
- Only found on B cells
- Always a monomer
- No effector functions
- Senses the antigenic environment of the B cell
- Connects the extracellular environment with signalling pathways
- Activates B cell effector function
- Only one antigen specificity per B cell
how are Immunoglobulins bifunctional?
- Conserved enough to interact with small number of specialised molecules.
- Allow changes to interactions during an immune response.
- Allow extensive variation between antibodies to match the infinite number of potential antigens but retain specificity throughout the immune response
- requires the protein to be both conserved and infinitely variable
what is the Immunoglobulin fold?
- a β barrel of 7 (CL) or 8 (VL) strands connected by loops and held together with a disulphide bond
The domains all look the same how can domain structure account for bifunctionality?
Examine genes encoding VH & VL domains
how does Organisation of Ig VH domain genes Maximise diverse specificity?
- COMBINATORIAL DIVERSITY - VH1 domains made from any combination of V gene with a D gene and a J gene
- JUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY - Imprecise breaking and joining of DNA when V, D and J genes recombine
how is the Ig heavy chain gene rearranged?
- RNA splicing joins the CH domains.
- Imprecise breaking and rejoining of DNA between the V and D genes and the D and J genes creates diversity of sequence and specificity
How does diversity arise from Ig light chain gene rearrangements (κ and λ)
- any V gene being able to join to any J gene
- deliberate errors in breaking and rejoining DNA
- insertion of new nucleotides between the join
what are Hypervariable sequences in Ig?
- COMPLEMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS (CDRs)
Distinct regions of high variability suggested region of antibody interacted with antigens. - More conserved parts acted as a FRAMEWORK (FR), on to which the hypervariable regions were suspended
how does Organisation of Ig CH chain genes Maximise effector function?
- the ability to switch to, one of several isotype-defining C genes
- Each CH chain domain is encoded by a separate exon
Summarise Bifunctionality of antibodies explained
by domain structure
- Fc- Structurally conserved end Effector functions
- Fab- Structurally diverse end Antigen recognition
- Light chain C domains κ or λ
- Heavy chain V domain
- Heavy chain C domains 3 x α, δ, γ, or 4 x μ, ε
- Papain cleavage sites- 2 x Fab 1 x Fc
- Domain structure allows diverse specificity with conserved Fc-dependent effector function
Why are they called ‘B’ cells?
1954 - Bruce Glick, Ohio State University
Functional studies of the bursa of Fabricius - a lymphoid organ in the cloacal region of birds
what was Bruce Glick’s experiment?
- Bursectomy – no apparent effect
- Bursectomised chickens re-used to raise anti-Salmonella antibodies
- Bursectomised chickens did not make anti-Salmonella antibodies
- The Bursa therefore the organ which antibody producing cells developed
- No bursa of Fabricius in mammals - bone marrow
how is Bone Marrow a maturation & differentiation microenvironment for B cells
- Regulates construction of antigen receptors
- Ensures each cell has one specificity
- Checks and disposes of self-reactive B cells
- Exports useful cells to the periphery
- Is a site of antibody production
how do Stromal cells nurture developing B cells?
- Contact between stromal cells and developing B cells
2. Secrete CYTOKINES at each stage of differentiation
how do Cytokines and cell-cell interactions regulate differentiation?
Different cytokines and cell-cell contacts are required at each stage of differentiation
how is The stage of differentiation is defined by Ig gene rearrangement
Stem cell- Germline unrearranged
Early pro-B- DH to JH
Late pro-B- VH to DHJH
Large pre-B- VHDHJH, PRE-B CELL RECEPTOR expressed
what are the Consequences of pre-B cell receptor ligation?
- Suppresses further H chain rearrangement
- Triggers entry into cell cycle
- Ensures only one specificty of Ab expressed per cell
- Expands only the pre-B cells with in frame VHDHJH joins