Handout 11: Differentiation and Functions of CD8+ T cells Flashcards
What is the typical life cycle of T lymphocyte in terms of its state of maturation?
pre-T cell–>Selection of T cells with appropriately rearranged receptors for Ag–>Naive T cells–>Encounter with Ag-bearing DC leads to activation and functional polarisation to effector or memory T cell–>carry out effector functions–>Memory T cell (or can go directly from Naive T cell to memory T cell)
What is the typical life cycle of T lymphocyte in terms of its site of maturation?
Bone–>Thymus–>Lymph node–>Peripheral tissue–> lymph node
OR
Bone–>Thymus–>Lymph node
T cells are generated from precursors in the ____ which then migrate to the ____
bone marrow, thymus
Like B cells in the bone marrow, T cells in the thymus also engage in what to generate a receptor for Ag?
rearrangement of genes
After rearrangement of genes takes place, like B cells, T cells then leave to populate ____ in a ______,_____ state
Lymph nodes, naive, immature
What key properties are used to select which T cells migrate into the lymph nodes from the thymus?
- Functional rearrangement and expression of their surface receptors for Ag
- Reduced or absent tendency to recognize self Ag (and thus avoid autoimmunity)
How do naive or immature T cells first become activated in the lymph node?
via Ags presented to them as short peptides bound to MHC molecules on the surface of APCs.
Only one type of cell is capable of activating naive T cells. What cell is this?
Dendritic cell
Aside from presentation of Ag to naive T cell, what other events are involved in activating the T cell? What is the result?
A series of coordinated signals involving the interaction on the DC and T cell surface and secretion of cytokines by the DC
Result: activation of T cell and functional polarization
What is functional polarization?
Means that the T cell takes on a particular set of tasks that promote the adaptive immune response (ex: organizing B cell responses)
Also called effector or regulatory functions, depending on nature
T cell population: T lymphocytes
Marker:
Typical percent in blood:
Additional info:
Marker: CD3 (TCR)
Typical percent in blood: 100% of T cells*
Additional info: All T cells are thymus derived
- 70% of all lymphocytes in the blood. B cells comprise remaining 30% of blood lymphocytes
T cell population: Helper T lymphocytes (Th)
Marker:
Typical percent in blood:
Additional info:
Marker: CD4
Typical percent in blood: 66% Of T cells
Additional info: Are class II MHC restricted
T cell population:Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs)
Marker:
Typical percent in blood:
Additional info:
Marker: CD8
Typical percent in blood: 33% of T cells
Additional info: Class I MHC restricted
How is activation of CD8+ T cells similar to activation of CD4+ T cells?
They are both activated in LNs by dendritic cells loaded with Ags
- CTLs recognize ____.
- Activated CD8+ cells then ____ and ____ the LN.
- CD8+ T cells are activated by mechanisms that involves ____ of Ags to _____
- class I MHC-associated peptides
- proliferate, leave
- cross-presentation; CD8+ T cells
How are extracellular Ags that are processed and presented within class II MHC also presented in association with class I MHC?
via cross presentation–some viral Ags are released from phagosome in cytoplasm of DC and then presented within class I MHC
The same cross presenting APC may display microbial peptides within class II MHC for CD4+ helper T cells
What is the sequence of events in Ag cross presentation with class I MHC?
- Ag capture: Infected cells and viral Ags are picked up by host APC
- Cross presentation: viral Ag released from phagosome in cytoplasm of DC presented within class I MHC
- T cell response
How do CD4+ T cells help activate CTLs?
- CD4+ T helper cells produce cytokines that stimulate CTL differentiation
- CD4+ T helper cells enhance ability of APCs to stimulate CTL differentiation
How are CTLs activated without the use of T helper cells?
CD8+ T cells recognize Ag and costimulators on professional APC which leads to CTL differentiation without helper T cells
CD8+ T cells are _______
Class I MHC restricted
What is the process by which CD8+ T lymphocytes are activated and differentiated?
- Naive CD8+ T cells recognize peptide Ag presented by DCs in LNs
- CD8+ T cells are stimulated to proliferate and differentiate into CTLs and memory cells
- Differentiated CD8+ CTLs enter circulation and migrate to site of Ag
- CD8+ CTLs recognize Ag in tissues and respond by killing target cells where Ag is produced
The naive CD8+ T cells, like all naive T cells are activated by Ags presented by ___
Dendritic cells
Ags that are recognized by CD8+ T cells usually come from what?
viruses or tumors derived from a variety of cell types
What is cross presentation important for?
Important for Ag presentation by professional APCs within class I MHC
After cross presentation, how are Ags presented in class I MHC molecules?
Exogenous Ags derived from ingested infected cells, tumor cells, or their proteins are transferred into the cytosol for processing, loading, and presentation in class I MHC
What is the first signal of CTL activation? What is the second signal?
1st signal: Naive CD8+ cells recognize Ags
2nd signal: CD28-CD80 costimulation which proliferates and differentiates into effector CTLs
How do activated CTLs kill other cells?
They release granules called lysosomes that contain perforin and granzymes to kill other cells
What cytokine do CTLs secrete? What is this cytokine’s function?
Activated CTLs secrete IFN-gamma which potently activates macrophages
CTL differentiation involves what transcription factor? What other cell differentiation is this transcription factor involved in?
T-bet transcription factor; also used by Th1 cell activation
What is the function of T-bet transcription factor?
Regulates transcription of genes encoding perforin, granzymes, and IFN-gamma
What is the third signal that enhances CTL differentiation? When is this third signal required?
CD4+ helper T cells provide the 3rd signal. Required for CD8+ T cell responses when relatively weak innate immune reactions are evoked by latent viral infections, organ transplants, and tumors
Is CD4+ helper T cells more important for generation of CD8+ memory T cells or for differenitation of naive CD8+ T cells into effector CTLs?
CD4+ helper T cells MORE important for CD8+ memory T cells
When does licensing of the APC occur?
When the CD4+ T cell recognizes Ag presented by an MHC class II+ APC and delivers activating signals through CD80/CD86 and CD40
What do activated CD4+ Th cells express? What does that bind to?
CD40L which may bind to CD40 on Ag loaded DCs
What upregulates the expression of CD80/CD86 on professional APC? Why is this upregulation necessary?
CD40-CD40L; this upregulation of CD80/CD86 makes them more efficient at stimulating the deifferentiation of CD8+ T cells
CD8+ T cell differentiation _____(does or does not?) require that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells should be in contact with the APC at the same time.
Does not
Which cytokine promotes the proliferation and differentiation of CD8+ T cells into CTLs and memory cells? Which subunit of this receptor is highly expressed by CD8+ T cells after activation?
IL-2; alpha subunit of IL-2R is highly expressed