Exam 5: Chapter 7 Flashcards
Why are the GD cells produced during embryogenesis lacking in diversity?
Each cell within a wave uses the same Vg segment and same D rearrangement
What is positive selection?
The selection of TCRs that bind self MHC isoforms
Do T cells with two functional TCRs ever make it into the periphery?
No
What region of the body does the second wave of embryonic GD cells colonize?
The reproductive tract epithelium
What cells populate the cortex?
Cortical epithelial cells
How do thymocytes transition from being Double Positive to being Single Positive?
CD8 is initially shut off, and the T cell tests to see if the TCR signal is still present. If it is, the cell is a CD4+ cell. If the signal is not present, CD4 is shut off and IL7 sends a signal to turn CD8 back on. The cell then becomes a CD8+ cell
How does T cell development proceed through the thymus?
T cell development starts in the cortex and proceeds into the medulla; naïve T cells that survive selection exit from the medulla
How do B cells and T cells differ in terms of longevity?
B cells last a few days or weeks, while T cells last years
What are Regulatory T cells (Treg)?
CD4+ cells that are also CD25+ and express transcription factor FoxP3; these cells regulate T cell response to prevent them from destroying self tissues
What is the medulla?
The inner portion of the thymus
How are lymphoid progenitor cells marked for T cell lineage?
Via notch signaling
What happens to cells that fail to productively rearrange their TCR?
They die via apoptosis and are removed by the macrophages in the cortex
What are the four checkpoints in T cell development?
Productive Beta chain arrangement, Productive Alpha chain arrangement, Positive Selection, Negative Selection
Which T cells are initially made during embryogenesis?
GD cells
What do T cells do if they survive both positive and negative selection?
They migrate through the blood stream and to the secondary lymphoid organs, where they collect in the T cell areas and interact with specific antigens
What is negative selection?
The deletion of TCRs that bind self peptides
What phenotype is observed in those lacking a thymus?
A SCID-like phenotype
What are immature T cell progenitors called?
Thymocytes
What cells populate the medulla?
Medullary epithelial cells, macrophages, dendritic cells