Effector T-lymphocytes Flashcards
What type of pathogens are detected + eliminated by T cells?
intracellular pathogens + altered cells i.e. tumour cells
Which forms of pathogen do CD4+ and CD8+ T cells respond to respectively?
- CD4: phagocytes with ingested microbes, antigens in vesicles
- CD8: infected cell with microbes in cytoplasm
What are 2 principle functions of CD4+ T cells?
- Cytokine secretion -> activates macrophages which kill ingested microbes (+ leads to inflammation)
- secrete IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-β
What are the 2 cytokines released by CD4+ T cells?
- IFN-γ
- IL-2
- TNF-β
What are 2 primary functions of CD8+ T cells?
- killing of infected cell
- secrete granules
Where do naive T lymphocytes get activated?
secondary lymphoid organs (recirculate in blood -> lymph -> lymphoid organs)
Where do naive T lymphocytes enter lymph nodes?
high endothliel venules (HEV) - specialised areas in post-capillary venules
What type of T cells can enter non-lymphoid tissue?
effector cells only - not naive T cells, as they have to have undergone differentiation process in response to antigen
What is the role of APCs and MHC class II?
lead to activation of T cells into effector cells
What are the 3 steps of the role of dendritic cells in T lymphocytes?
- immature DC take up antigen (innate immunity) in the peripheral tissue
- immature DC activated - leave tissue - migrate to secondary lymphoid tissue
- in LN DC matures, expresses high levels of peptide/MHC complexes and costimulatory molecules - leads to more efficient APC
What are the 2 possible steps of initial activation of naive T cells after monitoring for antigens presenting by APC?
- T cells enter HEV in cortex
- monitor for antigens presented by APC:
- 1) encounter -> proliferation and differentiation into effector cells
- 2) non-encounter -> leave lymph nodes
What 2 things are required for T cell activation?
antigen AND costimulatory molecules
(only exception is superantigens e.g. TSST-1 - can activate without costimulation)
What is an example of a costimulatory molecule for T cell activation with antigen?
CD28 (requires CD80 or CD86 ligand)
What are the 2 ligands that CD28 costimulatory molecule may require to active T cells?
- CD80
- CD86
What is the result of lack of co-stimulation of T cells?
unresponsive T cells and tolerance in peripheral T cells
What happens after recognition and costimulation of T lymphocytes by antigen?
proliferation/differentiation -> effector function
What 2 things are secreted by T cells in response to antigen recognition? What is its function?
IL-2 and IL-2 receptor - required for proliferation
What is the action of IL-2 secreted by T-cells in response to antigen recognition?
direct response: autocrine action, leading to cell activation and multiplication
What is the result of effector T cells following autocrine response to IL-2?
apoptosis - destroy infected target cells
How dependent are effector T cells on costimulation?
less dependent on co-stimulation
Which type of T cells has the highest affinity receptor to IL-2?
- activated cell - high affinity receptor (β + γ + α chains) AND secretion
- resting T cells have moderate affinity receptor only ((IL-2Rβ + γ chains)
What is the effect of IL-2 and its receptor binding to T cells?
signals the T cell to enter the cell, which induces proliferation
What is the definition of effector T cells?
have encountered antigen, proliferated and differentiated into cells that participate in the host defence
What are the 2 key types of CD4 T effector cells?
- Th1
- Th2
What is the action of Th1 cells?
interact with macrophages - phacotyose intracellular bacteria
What is the action of Th2 cells?
interact with antigen-specigic B cells - antibody production
What is the action of Th2 cells?
interact with antigen-specigic B cells - antibody production
What are CTLps?
cytotoxic lymphocyte precursor - naive T cell
Do CTLps express an IL-2 receptor?
no
Which cells do CTLps require for activation and proliferation?
Th1 helper T cells (CD4)
What are the stages of cytotoxic T cells inducing apoptosis?
- TCRs bind to specific antigenic peptide:self-MHC complexes -> TCRs and their coreceptors cluster to the site of cell-cell contact
- clustering of TCRs signals reorientation of cytoskeleton - POLARIZES the effector cell to focus the release of effector molecules at the site of contact with target cell
- CTLs contain lytic granules which contain cytotoxic molecules
- In the polarized T cells, secretory apparatus becomes aligned toward target cell -> content of the lytic granules secreted
- The lytic granules induce APOPTOSIS
What happens in a) early apoptosis and b) late apoptosis?
- a) chromatin condenses
- b) nucleus very condensed, mitochondria visible, cell loses much of cytoplasm and membrane
What are 3 types of granules released by cytotoxic T cells?
perforin
granzyme
granulysin
What is the action of perforin?
polymerises to form pore of target cell
What is the action of granzyme?
serine proteases, activate apoptosis in cytoplasm
What is the action of granulysin?
induce apoptosis