Immunology 3 (Kyle) Flashcards
The goal of this lecture is to understand the process of B cell development and to appreciate ow the immune system generates diversity of B cell binding specificity as well as diversity of antibody effector functions.
B cell, What is this ?
B Cell, a ( Lymphocyte) that is dedicated to making immunoglobulins and antibodies. The primary effector function of B cell s is to produce antigen specific antibodies.
Immunoglobulin, what is this?
Immunoglobulins (Ig) is the antigen- binding molecule produced by B cells, commonly referred to as antibodies.
Where are B cells produced?
The bone marrow, they also mature in the bone marrow.
Describe the specificity of Ig’s produced by any one B cell.
Each of the IG’s produced by any one B cell all have the same antigen specificity.
What is a plasma cell?
A terminally differentiated b cell whose primary function os to produce Ab’s.
What is a Memory B cell?
A long lived antigen specific B cell that results from antigenic stimulation of a niave B cell during the primary immune response.
What happens when a memory b cell is re-exposed to a specific antigen?
Upon subsiquent exposure to a specific antigen these cells are reactivated to differentiate into plasma cells as a comonent of a secondary immune response.
What is an antibody repertoire?
The complete collection of antibody specificities available within an individual. There can be as many as 10^11 different antibody specificities generated by somatic recombination of If genes in any individual .
What creates the diversity of antobody molecules?
The hypervariable regions of both the heavy and light chains.
Why is somatic recombination of Ig Genes such an important mechanism?
The Ig genes code for up to 10^11 different Ab molecules ( B cell receptors )
What are the two gene segments that are combined to create the variable region which is associated with a constant ( C ) region gene segment to form the complete light chain gene?
Light chain genes contain Variable ( V ) and Joining ( J ) gene segments.
What are the components of the heavy chain gene that encode the variable region and combine with a constant region gene?
Variable ( V ), Constant ( C ), and Diversity ( D ).
In regard to the somatic recombination within the variable region genes during construction…
Are the rearrangements random?
When do they occur?
The rearrangements that take place are random and occur during B Cell otongeny in the bone marrow.
**These developments are totally independent of interaction of the developing B cell with antigen.
What is the first step in light chain gene construction?
The first step is the random rearrangement of a single V gene segment with a single V gene segment to form a contunuous piece of DNA that encodes the entire variable region of the light chain.
In light chain construction is the C segment separate from the VJ segment?
Yes, the C gene segment adjacent to the J gene segment is separated from the VJ junction by non-coding (intronic) DNA sequence.
In light chain construction what brings the VJ junction together with the C gene segment?
RNA processing following transcription of the rearranged DNA brings the VJ junction together with the C Gene.
What are the gene segments that the variable region of the heavy chains are constructed from how many gene segments?
Three ( Vh, Dh, Jh )
What is the first step in heavy chain construction?
Random rearrangement of a single Dh gene segment with a single Jh gene segment to form a DJh junction.
What is the second step of heavy chain gene construction ?
Random rearrangement of a single Vh gene segment with the previously joined DJh segment.
What is the end result in heavy chain construction?
Look this up
In heavy chain construction what is the C gene segment?
Cu ( always )
Where is this Cu gene segment? Heavy Chain Construction
The Cu gene segment is adjacent to the J gene segment and is separated from the VDJh junction by non-coding (intronic) DNA sequence.
How are the Cu and the VDJ junction brought together?
RNA processing following transcription.
Are these recombination events precise?
No, but this offers a source of diversity in the Ab pool.
Once the V regions have been rearranged is there any further rearrangement ?
Once the V regions genes have rearranged ( to productively form VJ or VDJ exons ) no further rearrangement of that chromosome can take place. All progeny of that B cell will express the same V region genes.
What are the three main processes that help generate antibody diversity?
- Different pairing of the many gene segments to form the cariable domains of both the light and heavy chains.
- Imprecise goining of gene segments during the somatic recombination process
- Different pairing of the many possible light chains with the many possible heavy chains that can be produced.
What is Allelic Exclusion?
The process by which the protein from only one allele is expressed while the other allele are silenced.
Is somatic Hypermutation and affinity maturation Antigen-Dependent?
Yes it is an Antigen dependent process.
What is somatic hypermutation?
Somatic Hypermutation: Single nucleotide substitutions that occure at a very high frequency in the rearranged variable region of DNA of immunoglobulin genes
What is affinity maturation
A result of somatic hypermutation. An antibody population will mature resulting in Ab populations that have increased affinity for specific antigen.
Where do most point mutations ( of hypermutation) take place?
In the hyper-variable region.
Is Isotype switching antigen dependent?
Yes Isotype switching is an antigen dependent process. During the course of an imune response the Vh exon can associate with different Ch genes.
When are the V-region eons produced by any given B cell ?
They are determined during the pro- and pre- B cell development stage of maturation.
Does IgD undergo Isotype switching?
No, as IgM and IgD are simultaneously expressed on mature niave B cells.
Can Ch region genes expressed by a Bcell line change as a response matures?
Yes, Ch can switch but a given B-cell and all its progeny will express the same Vl and Vh genes.
When does isotype switching occur?
After B cells have been stimulated by an antigen and hace received T cell “help” in the form of cytokine signals produced by T helper cells.