Exam 4: Chapter 6 Flashcards
How is B cell development regulated?
Via checkpoints that occur at the end of each step in B cell development
How are the different stages of B cell development characterized?
By distinct sets of surface CD antigens
What occurs in step one of B cell development?
The heavy chain rearranges
What occurs in step two of B cell development?
The light chain rearranges
In what stage of the B cell does heavy chain D-J rearrangement occur?
Early pro-B cell
In what stage of the B cell does heavy chain V-DJ rearrangement occur?
Late pro-B cell
In what stage of the B cell does light chain V-J rearrangement occur?
Small pre-B cell
In what stage of the B cell is IgM first on the surface?
Immature B cell
What cells make up the bone marrow microenvironment?
Stromal cells
How do stromal cells regulate B cell development?
Stromal cells bind to the developing B cells via adhesion molecule interactions, and stimulate development by producing growth factors and chemokines
What are the two key events in the development of a B cell?
The rearrangement of the heavy and light chains
What are productive rearrangements?
Heavy and light chain rearrangements that are in frame and produce a working protein
What are unproductive rearrangements?
Heavy and light chain rearrangements that are not in frame and/or do not produce a working protein
What happens if the first heavy chain allele fails to form a productive rearrangement?
The second heavy chain allele will attempt to produce a productive rearrangement
What happens if both heavy chain alleles fail to form a productive rearrangement?
The B cell dies via apoptosis
How many times can each heavy chain allele rearrange?
Once
How does a cell test for a productive heavy chain rearrangement?
By attempting to bind the heavy chain to the surrogate light chain to form the pre-B cell receptor
What two proteins make up the surrogate light chain?
VpreB and lambda-5
What is the role of the Pre-B cell receptor?
To signal to the cell that heavy chain rearrangement was successful, thus stopping further heavy chain rearrangement
Is the pre-B cell receptor able to bind antigen?
No, because the full binding site is not yet present
How does allelic exclusion apply to heavy chain rearrangement?
Only one productive heavy chain rearrangement is allowed to form
How does the B-Cell receptor prevent further heavy chain rearrangement?
By sending a signal into the cell that degrades RAG1/2
How would a lack of allelic exclusion affect IgM secretion?
IgM would be unable to be secreted as a pentamer due to multiple specificities being present
Where is the heavy chain held while the light chain rearranges?
In the Endoplasmic Reticulum