Differentiation and Activation of T Cells Flashcards
The “bubble boy” disease
People without T and B cells because are missing the recombination activating gene that allows them to make T and B cell receptors
Susceptible to ear infections, pneumonia, oral candidiasis
T cells express membrane T cell receptor (TCR) that recognize peptides displayed by…
MHC molecules
TCR on each T cell clone is specific for…
distinct peptide/MHC molecule combination
Collection of distinct T cells clones make up the…
immune repertoire. Meaning can have over 10^16 specificities
TCR transmits signals that are not specific via…
associated invariant CD3 and z membrane proteins
In TCR signaling, coreceptors CD4 and CD8 transmit…
mandatory activating signals
Structure of TCR
Membrane bound heterodimeric protein composed of an alpha and beta chain, with variable region (able to recognize antigens) in N terminal and constant region in C terminal
- three hypervariable regions where the antigen binds
Which region of the TCR is the complementary-determining region with the greatest variability and most antigen binding?
CDR3
*may be analyzed for polymorphisms
Describe the binding site for recognition of peptide-MHC complex by TCR
- Variable domains of a chains for MHC class I
- Variable domains of a and b chains for MHC class II
- recognize 1-3 residues of the peptides (processed antigen is the one recognized, does not recognize an entire protein)
- affinity of antigen binding: 10^5-10^7 M (pretty high)
How is the enormous diversity of TCR generated?
Recombination of V, D, J gene segments; somatic recombination of gene segments accounts for the diversity
*diversity is 10^16
describe the germline organization of TCR gene loci
- TCR beta chains locus (on chromosome 7) contains Variable (48), D, J, and Constant (few) genes
- TCR alpha chains locus (chromosome 14) contains Variable (45), J, and Constant (few) genes - note no D gene
- several short diversity (D) and joining (J) gene segments between V and C genes
describe the recombination of TCR genes
- Random selection of gene segments
- mediated by a lymphocyte-specific VDJ recombinase (RAG) that brings two segments close together
Step 1: recombination of D and J segments
Step 2: recombination of V segments with fused D-J elements
Step 3: recombination of C segment with fused V-D-J segments
*same idea for alpha chain, but no D segment
In the generation of TCR diversity, ___ diversity is limited, but ___ diversity is unlimited
combinatorial; junctional
How is junctional diversity in TCR mainly responsible for the tremendous diversity?
- exonucleases, which can remove nucleotides
- terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT), which can add nucleotides
*these two enzymes contribute to the tremendous diversity: 10^16
How do T cells mature and get selected? (overview)
Positive and negative selection based on functional antigen receptors
Steps in maturation of lymphocytes
- cycles of proliferation and expression of antigen receptor
- cells that do not express functional receptors die
- start in bone marrow with common lymphoid progenitor
- Pro-B/T cells proliferate in response to IL-7 made in the thymus
- Pre-B/T cells start expressing one chain of the antigen receptor. Cells that don’t express this die by apoptosis (checkpoint 1)
- Cells proliferate and now express the complete antigen receptor. Cells that don’t express this die (checkpoint 2)
- Positive and negative selection: weak antigen recognition are positively selected and become mature T/B cells. Strong antigen selection is negatively selected
*99% of T cells in thymus die
Why is positive/negative selection of T cells done?
A T cell that has strong antigen recognition may be recognizing an antigen in the body strongly, leading to autoimmunity
describe the maturation of thymocytes
- TCRb gene recombination in pro-T cells and forms pre-TCR
- pre-TCR signals promote survival and TCRa gene recombination
- immature T cells express TCR and CD4 and CD8 (double positive)
what is a double negative thymocyte?
they do not express CD4 or CD8: called Pro-T cells
IL-7
Proliferation of pre-B & pre-T cells
Causes Pro-T cell to express Pre-TCR (Pre-T cells)
Describe the maturation and selection of T cells
- weak MHC + peptide recognition leads to positive selection of mature CD4/CD8 T cells (only one of the CDs will be expressed now based on which class of MHC is recognized)
- strong MHC + peptide recognition or no recognition leads to death (negative selection/death by neglect)
- selected T cells are single positive
Describe Goldilocks principle of T cell selection
The appropriate amount of antigen recognition in the thymus allows T cells to be selected and migrate to the periphery: strong recognition and no recognition lead to negative selection/death by neglect, but weak recognition leads to positive selection where the cells can then go to the periphery
How are T cells activated? (overview)
Antigen recognition and costimulation results in clonal expansion (2 signals)
describe the induction and effector phases of cell-mediated immunity
- naive T cells recognize antigens in the lymph node as presented by dendritic cells
- proliferation and differentiation
- migration of effector T cells to antigen sites
- reactivation of effector T cells in tissues (effector T cells encounter antigens in peripheral tissues and are activated; checks to make sure correct antigen is being attacked)
- effector T cells carry out their functions in tissues: leukocyte activation (inflammation), phagocytosis and killing of microbes, CTL killing of infected cell
Steps in activation of T cells
- antigen recognition
- cytokine secretion and cytokine receptor expression: IL-2 is crucial for T-cell survival and proliferation
- proliferation and differentiation into different types of T cells
- effector functions of CD4+ and CD8+
effector functions of CD4+
activation of macrophages, B cells, and other cells
effector functions of CD8+
killing of infected “target cells”; macrophage activation