Inflammation - Immunology - B cell & T cell Maturation Flashcards
True/False.
Primary B cell development is antibody-dependent.
False.
Primary B cell development is antibody-independent.
Antibody constant regions differ between antibody _________.
Classes
(IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgD)
True/False.
Antibody variable regions differ between antibody class only.
False.
Antibody variable regions differ between all antibodies.
What determines an antigen’s class (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgD)?
The constant region
(constant within each class)
What term refers to the mixing up and reassembling of DNA to form the code for a diverse variety of B cell antigen receptors (surface antibodies)?
VDJ recombination
What do the V, D, and J of B cell antibody DNA stand for?
Variable region,
diversity region,
joining region
What process is shown here?
VDJ recombination
True/False.
VDJ recombination (genetic formation for synthesizing new antibodies) is selectively directed by whatever antigens are presented to the B cell.
False.
VDJ recombination is completely random.
Which parts of VDJ recombination are relevant to light chain variable regions?
Which parts of VDJ recombination are relevant to heavy chain variable regions?
V, J;
V, D, J
What might be a potential cause of agammaglobulinemia and/or SCID involving defects in antibody production?
Defects in VDJ recombination
(e.g. a defect in RAG1 or RAG2)
True/False.
The human body is constantly synthesizing new, random antibodies.
True.
Via random VDJ recombination.
True/False.
Both T cells and B cells use random genetic recombination to increase diversity of their surface receptors.
True.
What is a B cell antigen receptor?
A B cell surface antibody
Describe the basic structural difference between B cell and T cell antigen receptors.
What type of enzyme cleaves recombination signal sequences (RSSs) to start the VDJ recombination process?
RAG (1 and 2)
(recombination activating gene)
With all the V, D, and J sequences available in both heavy chains and light chains (no Ds) for recombination, how many different antibodies can the body potentially produce?
50 trillion
(obviously, we can only have a small fraction of this total potential)
All B cells start out with what B cell antigen receptor class?
IgM
Light chains usually have a VJ section that is either classified as a __ or a __.
Heavy chains usually have one VDJ type, classified as __.
κ, λ;
H
What is the ratio of κ to λ chains in our B cells?
3:1
After a pre-B cell has formed a potential heavy chain variable region, what happens?
It presents this region to a bone marrow stromal cell as the CDR3;
if it is a productive arrangement, the B cell is allowed to proceed to light chain production
What is portrayed in this image?
A pro-B cell presenting its heavy chain CDR3 to a bone marrow stromal cell;
if it is a productive (correctly made heavy chain) arrangement, the B cell is allowed to proceed to light chain production
How many antigen-binding sites are present on a single antibody?
3
(2 on the sides of the variable regions; 1 in the middle)
True/False.
Antibodies bind to their respective antigens through weak, non-covalent interactions.
True.
These are reversible interactions.
True/False.
Every individual has their own unique antibodies that react to unique antigenic epitopes.
True.
All antibody production is randomly generated.
Pre-B cells express cytoplasmic and surface __ chains.
Immature B cells express surface __.
μ;
IgM
What type of B cell can express Ig types other than IgM?
Mature B cells
If a pro-B cell presents a non-productive (non-useful) CDR3 to a bone marrow stromal cell, what happens next?
Apoptosis
(the cell may try one more round of heavy chain production first)
True/False.
Antigens may drive the production of B cells and plasma cells, but the antibody production is still completely random and independent.
True.
The default for B cell and T cell precursors is ________, unless they are activated or maintained via extracellular preservation signalling (from nurturing / checkpoint cells in the bone marrow and/or thymus).
Apoptosis
What two cell proteins are indicative of a B cell lineage?
(And a T cell lineage?)
CD19, CD20, CD40;
(CD3, CD4 or CD8)
What cell type sends survival signals to developing B cells keep them from undergoing apoptosis?
Bone marrow stromal cells
What survival signal do bone marrow stromal cells constitutively secrete to maintain developing pro-B cells?
Interleukin-7
(NOTE: the stromal cells induce IL-7 receptor up-regulation on B cells with useful CDR3 production. So, while IL-7 is always present, only chosen cells are maintained by it.)
What is the difference between B cell antigen receptors and secreted antibodies?
Location only
(cell surface or free in serum)
Pro-B cells display what to stromal cells in the bone marrow?
And pre-B cells?
Heavy chain surrogates (CDR3);
light chain surrogates
Describe the timing of heavy chain and light chain production by pro- and pre- B cells.
How can a bone marrow stromal cell tell if a pro-B cell has created a useful heavy chain?
Correct electrical charges present
(not specific recognition)
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is on the surface of what?
Gram-negative bacteria
Which type of antigen creates better B cells, T-dependent or T-independent antigens?
T-dependent
What are the two main types of T-independent antigens?
Type 1:
polyclonal activators (e.g. mitogen, LPS);
Type 2:
large, polysaccharide molecules (cross-link B cell receptors)
Describe the differences in the first and second B cell response to a T-dependent antigen (according to speed, how much antibody production occurs, and what type of antibodies are produced).
How are self-recognizing B cells prevented from entering general circulation (very simple mechanism)?
Via a bone marrow self-antigen check
(self-reactive cells will stick to the bone marrow cells)
Not all self substances are present in the bone marrow.
Does a simple self-antigen check help check for B cells sensitive to T-dependent or T-independent antigens? Why?
T-independent;
most body cells are not mitogens or large polysaccharides
(i.e. once these have been screened for, there is little chance of reactivity to another part of the body unless it is T cell -induced.)
Which is more common, autoreactivity to T-dependent or T-independent substrates?
(I.e., are most autoimmune disorders likely to come from reactivity from B cells alone?)
T-dependent
(B cells are screened for T-independent reactivity before they leave the bone marrow.)