T & B Lymphocytes Flashcards
What are the two broad categories of lymphocytes?
T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes.
What does clonal selection theory refer to?
The selection of lymphocytes by antigens and their response in producing a clone.
What do the specific surface proteins of T lymphocytes allow them to do?
Distinguish between self and non-self antigens.
What causes auto-immune diseases?
When T-lymphocytes respond to self antigens.
How do cytotoxic T lymphocytes destroy infected cells?
By inducing apoptosis.
What is apoptosis?
When cells are programmed to self destruct.
What do the chemicals released by T cells do?
Allow chemicals to perforate the cell membrane which in turn allows further chemical to access the cells and cause DNA and proteins to break down.
What happens after the DNA and proteins of a cell have been broken down?
The cell shrinks and dies allowing a phagocyte to engulf and digest it.
What is the benefit of apoptosis?
The cell is not broken so the pathogen within it is not released.
T cells can recognise cancer cells by their antigens and can then do what?
Bring about the lysis of the cells.
How are B lymphocytes activated?
By the release of cytokines by T lymphocytes.
What cells produce a clone of B cells?
T lymphocytes.
What happens to the antibodies secreted by B cells?
They are passed into blood and taken to affected areas.
How can the relationship between an antibody and pathogen be described?
Specific.
What does each B clone produce?
A specific antibody.
