lymphocytes Flashcards
- What type of immunity are T cells a part of?
- What type of immunity are B cells a part of?
- What is specificity of B and T cells due to?
Cell mediated
Humoral
respective BCRs and TCRs
- Define epitope
- What structure of epitopes do T cells recognise?
- What structure of epitopes do B cells recognise?
Region of an antigen which the receptor binds to
Linear epitopes in the context of an MHC molecule - Primary structure Structural epitopes - the 3D structure of the antigen in space
- Explain the process of clonal expansion
Each lymphocyte bears a single, unique receptor
Interaction between a specific foreign molecule and that receptor leads to activation and clonal expansion (multiple copies of same cell) Differentiated effector cells of that lineage will bear the same receptor
- Explain the antigen receptor diversity problem
- How is antigen receptor diversity generated?
We need to encode a large Repertoire of lymphocyte receptors
We need 10^15 different genes for each different antibody, but we only have 25000 genes total for all functions
Each BCR chain is encoded by separate multi-gene families on different chromosomes.
During B cell maturation these gene segments are brought together.
This process is called Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement
what are the three types of chain that form BCR?
- What is the role of an MHC?
kappa, lambda, gamma
To bind peptide fragments derived from pathogens and display them on the cell surface for recognition by the appropriate T cells
Critical in surgery and donor matching
defines self and non self
- Describe the structure of MHCI and where are they found?
- Describe the structure of MHCII and where are these found?
Single variable alpha chain plus a common beta- microglobulin
On all nucleated cells
2 chains - alpha and beta Normally only on "professional" antigen presenting cells
- What gene in humans encodes for MHC?
- How are MHC genes expressed?
HLA genes
MHC is polygenic - 3 class I and 3 class II loci Co-dominant (maternal and paternal both expressed) Each person can have up to 6 of the variations of the gene if completely heterozygous
- What are the 2 T cell families?
- Which MHC is presented to CD8 T cells?
- Which MHC is presented to CD4 T cells?
CD4(helper) and CD8(killer)
MHC1
MHC 2
Where are intracellular MHC/TCR interactions processed?
what are they presented on
what are they presented to
which domain of MHC molecule does CD8 cell bind to
Cytosol
MHC1
CD8 T cells
alpha 3 domain
Where are extracellular MHC/TCR interactions processed?
what are they presented to
what is it presented on
which domain on MHC?
endosomes
CD4 T cells
MHC2
beta 2
- Explain what CD4 T helper cells do
They produce cytokines (family of inflammatory mediators)
Influence the outcome of the immune response.
- List all 5 CD4 T helper cell classes
Th1 - boosts cellular immune response
Th2 - boosts multi-cellular response Th 17 - controls bacterial and fungal infection Treg (Th0) - limits immune response Tfh - pro-antibody
- Which CD4 T helper cell class are pro-inflammatory?
- Which CD4 T helper cell class includes interleukins 4,5 and 13?
- What CD4 T helper cell class is pro-allergic?
- Which class of CD4 T cells includes interleukins 6, 17 & 23?
Th1 and Th17
Th2
Th2
Th17
what cytokines are released by a:
- TH1 response
- Tfh response
- Treg response
IL-12
TNF- tumour necrosis factor
INF- Gamma
IL-21
IL-10, TGF-beta
- How do cytotoxic T cells (CTL) kill their target cells?
- How is apoptosis characterised?
Apoptosis
Fragmentation of nuclear DNA