Lecture 1 - B cells - Immune Deficiencies 1 Flashcards
What are RSSs?
In which cells are they found in the DNA?
Recombination signal sequences
• These flank the V, D & J mini gene segments
• Nucleotide sequences recognised by the enzymes RAG-1 and RAG-2 → cleavage
RSS are found in all cells, as the immunoglobulin gene loci are present in all cells. The reason that the genes are not rearranged in all cells is that they do not express RAG1/RAG2
What are the various enzymes that perform gene recombination of immunoglobulins?
- Site recognition and cleavage
• Recombination-activating genes (RAG-1, RAG-2
• HGM1 - NHE joining
• Artemis
• PKcs (protein kinases)
• Ku70 and Ku80 - Ligation
• TdT (addition of nucleotides to form N regions)
• DNA Ligase IV
Describe the function of RAG1 & RAG2
- Recognition of RSS sequences
- Cleavage
• Induction of cleavage by making nicks in dsDNA
What are the three steps in VDJ recombination?
- Site recognition and cleavage
- NHE joining
- Ligation
Describe NHE joining
Enzymes bring the two ends together
• Artemis
• PKcs
• Ku70 and Ku80
These enzymes and the process are ubiquitous, i.e. this is how DNA is joined everywhere in the body
Describe the stage of ligation
- TdT randomly adds extra nucleotides to the broken ends at VDJ junctions
- DNA Ligase IV joins up the DNA
Which enzymes in the process of VDJ recombination are unique to B lymphocytes?
- RAG1/2
* TdT (NB Process unique to the heavy chain)
When do immature B cells leave the bone marrow?
Once they have a successful IgM and IgD on their surface
i.e. once they are mature
List the mutations that can disrupt B cell development
What two categories do they fall into?
– Mutations in the enzymes that drive recombination and development–
- RAG
- PAX5
- E2A
-- Mutation in genes that transmit success signals -- • Igα/β • BLNK • BTK • Syk
Describe the structure of an immunoglobulin
Light chain:
• VL
• CL
Heavy chain: • VH • CH1 • CH2 • CH3
Chains held together by disulphide bonds
• 1x between heavy and light chain
• 2x at hinge region between the two heavy chains
What are the features of large Pre-B cells?
Has Pre-B cell receptor:
• VDJ(h) + surrogate light chains
• Igα and Igβ signalling chains
NB Light chain in germ line configuration
What are the features of pre-pro B cells?
Rearranging heavy chain: D(h) → J(h)
What is a pro-B cell?
Successfully rearranged DJ(h)
Rearranging V(h) → DJ(h)
What are SLCs?
Where are they seen?
Which transcription factor is required for their expression?
Surrogate light chains
• They are the same in every B cell
• They are seen in pre-B cells
• E2A required for their expression
What are the different immunoglobulin loci in humans?
- H
- L(κ)
- L(λ)
Which locus, κ or λ, is rearranged first?
κ
alphabetical order
What do the ‘signalling’ molecules do in VDJ rearrangement?
Describe the mechanism of the pre-BCR checkpoint
Signal that rearrangement of the heavy chain was successful
- Heavy chain + SLC join with Igα and Igβ
- Signal transduction, involving:
• Btk
• BLNK
• Syk - ‘Success’ signal
What is the structure of the pre-B cell receptor?
Heavy chain + SLC
The immunoglobulin is bound to the surface, but the light chains are yet to be made; SLCs take their place
What are Igα and Igβ?
Signal transduction molecules
Transmit signal from the surface by a sequential cascade into the nucleus
Describe the pathogenesis of agammaglobulinaemia
1. Mutation in part of 'success signal' • Btk (→ leads to XLA) • Igα & Igβ • μ heavy chain • SLC • BLNK
- Even though Ig is successfully rearranged, the signal is not there
- B cells development is halted
- No B cells in circulation, no Ab
- Recurrent infections
What is the pathogenesis XLA?
- Mutation in Btk
- No transduction of success signal at the pre-BCR checkpoint
- B cell development does not occur
- No B cells (and thus Ab in circulation)
NB No problem with rearrangement of immunoglobulin
What are the symptoms and features of XLA and other agammaglobulinaemias without B cells?
At what age do people with agammaglobulinaemia present?
• Recurrent infections: Strep. pneumonia, H. influenzae, otitis, sinusitis
- Serum lacking immunoglobulin
- No circulating B cells
Presentation at 3 years
What happens to T cells in XLA?
Not affected
What is a combined immune deficiency?
Both humoral and cellular immunity is lost
Describe Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment
- Administration
- Components
- Efficacy
- IgG derived from sera of other people
- Given intravenously
- High dose once a month
- By end of month, the amount is still quite high despite decay
Efficacy:
• Not great
• Only 20% of people remained infection free over a period of 5 years
• This is because the Ab is static and can not be improved over the course of an infection
What is Subcutaneous immunoglobulin treatment?
- Immunoglobulin self administered once a week
- Much more convenient
- Dosage can be better controlled
Which molecules in the pre-B cell receptor are vital for success signals?
Igα
Igβ
Btk
BLNK
What is Btk?
A kinase involved in signal-transduction at Pre-BCR checkpoint