Exam 3 Flashcards
alpha:beta T cell selections
positive and negative election, only about 2% make it through positive
Positive T cell selection
recognition of peptides on self-MHC molecules, presented by thymic cortex epithelium, after binding the MHC will select the co-receptor, if no bind then apoptosis
Thymic cortex epithelium
produce both MHC classes of molecules and present them to developing T cells, peptides derived from self proteins (appx 10,000 self peptides, 120,000 if hetero for all 6 HLA classes) thus T cell receptor repertoire in order of tens of millions
Allelic Exclusion
Remember the alpha chain doesn’t do this - mature T cells can produce two different functional T-cell receptors (1/3 make 2) but after positive selection this drops to 1-2%.
Positive T Cell selection Time line
If first alpha chain rearrangement is productive, positive selection occurs in a few hours (RAG inactivated and protein destroyed). If not, rearrangement continues and can continue 3-4 days until T-cell receptor can be positively selected for (receptor editing)
T Cell Co-Receptor
positive selection not only selects functional T cell receptors for MHC binding but is driving force for co-receptor commitment. Makes double positive thymocyte become single positive thymocyte
CD8
co-receptor recruited by MHC class I
CD4
co-receptor recruited by MHC class II
Single Positive Gene Expression
Binding of co-receptor stop synthesis of other receptor. Then gene expression changes to provide CD4 cells with capacity for helper function and CD8 cells with capacity for cytotoxic function
Negative Selection T-Cells
deletes T cells that bind to self peptides and self-MHC molecules presented in thymus too strongly. Mediated by thymocytes. Most importantly checks bone derived dendritic cells and macrophages.
Negative Selection general presentation
occurs by the presentation of self peptides derived from proteins that phagocytes have taken up, including ubiquitously expressed proteins. Proteins expressed in multiple cell types, the transcirption factore autoimmune regulatore AIRE expresses tissue-specific genes.
AIRE
transcription factor autoimmune regulator, which expresses tissue specific genes. Important for differentiating between cells that produce the same proteins.
Regulatory CD4 T Cells general
instead of activating macrophages and B cells like helper cells, these guys suppress response of self-reactive T cells.
Regulatory T cells receptors
Have receptors that recognize self antigens an express CD25 and a transcriptional factor called FoxP3
Regulatory T Cell Function
When regulatory T cell binds to MHC class II molecule with self antigen, it suppresses proliferation of naive T cells responding to self antigens on the same antigen presenting cell
FoxP3
expressed only in regulatory T cells, is encoded by a gene on the X chromosome
IPEX
(immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, exteropathy, x-linked syndrome) a deficiency in FoxP3 and causes autoimmunity and only treated via bone marrow transplant
Differentiation of T cells in Secondary Lymphoid Tissue
only 1-2% survive +/- selection, Mature T cells recirculate through blood and to secondary lymphoid tissue and lymph, can circulate many moons, Naieve activated by antigen in secondary lymphoid tissue, causes division and differentiation into effector T cells,
Effector Cells are
CD8 become cytotoxic T cells (intracellular pathogens only so there are not as many), and CD4 become helper/regulatory (depends on nature of pathogen and immune response required for clearance…double number of CD8…attacked in HIV)
T Cell Tumors
most correspond to early or late stages of development, have characteristic rearrangements of their T cell receptor genes (derived from a single transformed cell) so gene rearrangements can be detected to determine presence of T-cell tumor and monitor growth and dissemination.
When T cells are going through positive selection, what provides the driving force for selecting the co-receptor?
recruitment to the bound MHC molecule
What happens during receptor editing in T cells?
Continued rearrangement of alpha chain
First step of primary adaptive immune response
T-cell activation
Location where adaptive immune response generated
secondary lymphoid tissue after macrophages and dendritic cells take up pathogens and present antigens on MHC class 1 and II