Lecture 5: Antigen Capture and Presentation Flashcards
Lymphocytes constantly recirculate between tissues to kill microbes. What are the steps on how they do this?
- Lymphocytes enter lymph nodes, where they encounter APCs.
- Lymphocytes are activated and differentiate in the lymph nodes.
- Lymphocytes exit lymph nodes and enter circulation, head to inflamed tissues where they mediate microbial destruction.
What activates the T cells?
Antigen Presenting Cells (APC)
How does the antigen presenting cells (APC) activate T cells?
APCs capture antigens (Ags) in tissues and transport these Ags to peripheral lymphoid tissues (lymph nodes usually) where lymphocytes are concentrated, to present those Ags to T cells.
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and II molecules
APC present peptide antigens to T cells on MHC class I and class II molecules
These antigens are linear peptides bound and presented by MHC molecules
T cell antigens
MHC locus
- collection of genes found in all mammals that code for MHC molecules. The locus contains two sets of highly polymorphic genes (Class I and Class II)
- originally discovered as principle determinant of graft rejection.
- people with the same MHCs (e.g. twins) accept grafts.
- people with different MHCs reject grafts.
Polymorphism
multiple alleles of a gene within a population
What does the Class I and Class II genes code for?
Class I and Class II genes code for the Class I and Class II molecules that display peptides to T cells
Most MHC peptide binding clefts have ______
pockets
What fits into the MHC pockets of MHC binding clefts and what do they do?
Side chains of two or three amino acids of antigenic peptides fit into the MHC pockets and “anchor” the peptide in the MHC peptide-binding cleft.
Additional amino acid residues of the antigenic peptide extend upwards and are recognized by TCR.
Why does MHC molecules have a broad specificity?
- any given MHC can present any peptide with the correct anchor residues.
- Thus, MHC molecules have a broad specificity, allowing a small number of MHC molecules to display a large array of peptide antigens.
What happens to when peptides are bound to the MHC?
When bound, peptides remain on display for up to days maximizing the likelihood of encountering the correct T cell.
What are the MHC-expressing cell types of Class II MHC molecules?
- dendritic cell
- macrophage
- B cell
What are the MHC-expressing cell types of Class I MHC molecules?
All nucleated cells
- leukocytes
- epithelial cells
- mesenchymal cells
CD4+ helper T lymphocytes
interact with dendritic cells, macrophages, B lymphocytes
CD8+ CTLs
can kill any virus-infected cell
Structure of Class I MHC
What is it made of?
- an α chain, noncovalently linked to a β2-microglobulin chain.
- α1 and α2 domains form a peptide binding groove that holds peptides of 8-11 amino acids.
-TCR on top of the MHC molecule
- Polymorphic residues located in the α1 and α2 domains of Class I MHC molecules
- α3 domain
Where does the TCR stay on the Class I MHC molecule and what does it do?
The TCR sits down on the top of the MHC molecule and contacts residues extending up out of the peptide binding groove on the antigenic peptide.