T Cell Development and Diversity Flashcards

1
Q

What is a T cell?

A

• derived from the common lymphoid precursor and bears a TCR

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2
Q

in context of MHC, what do T cells recognize?

A

• T cells ONLY recognize peptide antigens

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3
Q

T cells serve several important roles in acquired immune responses. What are they?

A
  • • kill cells infected with viral or other intracellular pathogen
  • • supply helper signals which activate B cells and macrophages
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4
Q

T/F T cells do not secrete immunoglobulin molecules

A

true

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5
Q

There are 2 lineages of T cells. Describe them

A
  1. most T cells bear a TCR composed of an α and a β chain; these are referred to as αβ T cells
  2. some T cells bear a TCR composed of a γ and a δ chain; these are referred to as γδ T cells
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6
Q

Describe γδ T cells wrt recognition, location, maturity, role)

A
  • primitive cells that do not seem to recognize peptide/MHC complexes (not MHC-restricted)
  • found primarily in mucosal epithelium
  • mature extrathymically
  • thought to have significant role in recognition of lipid antigens
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7
Q

What is the signal transduction unit for the T cell receptor? where is it found?

A

• CD3:

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8
Q

What is the role of ITAMS: immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs?

A

initiate signaling cascade upon antigen-recognition thru the TCR

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9
Q

What are Important Surface Markers of T cells?

A
  1. CD4 and CD8: co-receptors for the T cell receptor
  2. CD28
  3. Fas ligand
  4. adhesion molecules
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10
Q

describe the importance of CD4 and CD8 as co-receptors for the TCR

A

all mature αβ T cells express either CD4 or CD8

  • • CD4 binds (weakly) to MHC class II molecules
  • • CD8 binds (weakly) to MHC class I molecules
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11
Q

What molecule binds to B7 molecules on antigen presenting cells; (co-stimulation)?

A

CD28

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12
Q

Describe the surface T cell marker effect wrt to Fas ligand

A

it can bind to Fas expressed on the surface of target cells, initiating Fas-mediated apoptosis

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13
Q

What T cell surface marker can initiate interactions between T cells and APC or target cells?

A

adhesion molecules

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14
Q

Where are thymocytes produced? Where do they mature?

A

Thymocytes are Produced in BM,

Mature in Thymus

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15
Q

Thymocytes Interact with what type cell?

A

Thymic Epithelial Cells

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16
Q

What is the role of Tingible-body Macrophages?

A

Remove Apoptotic Cells

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17
Q

TCR Variable Region Gene Rearrangements. Which are the first to rearrange?

A

beta, gamma, and delta chain genes are the first to rearrange

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18
Q

if gamma and delta chain rearrangement is successful before beta chain rearrangement, what T cell forms?

A

T cell will be a γδ T cell

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19
Q

if beta chain rearrangement of the TCR variable region is 1st to be successful, what is the result?

A

it associates with an invariant chain (pTα; a surrogate alpha chain) and the CD3 complex to form the pre-T cell receptor complex


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20
Q

once the pre-TCR is expressed, what happens wrt gene rearrangement?

A

beta, gamma, and delta gene rearrangements cease

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21
Q

Describe somatic recombination of TCR genes

A
  1. pre T cell begins to proliferate
  2. alpha chain gene rearrangement begins
  3. if alpha chain gene rearrangement is successful, the expressed alpha chain polypeptide associates with nascent beta chain polypeptides and the final T cell receptor is expressed
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22
Q

Thymocytes that bind best to MHC class I will have what result?

A

Up-regulate CD8 expression

and

Down-regulate CD4 expression

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23
Q

Thymocytes that bind best to MHC class II will have what result?

A

Up-regulate CD4 expression

and

Down-regulate CD8 expression

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24
Q

Mature T cells Migrate where?

A

2˚ Lymphoid Tissues

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25
Q

Why is Somatic Recombination of TCR Ig Genes Such an Important Mechanism?

A

the TCR Ig genes code for up to 10^18 different TCR molecules



the human genome contains approximately 40,000 genes




Decreases the size of the genome required for the proper genes to include an adequate repertoire

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26
Q

What are the characteristic cell-surface markers and its location of a stem cell?

A

marker => CD34

location => bone marrow

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27
Q

What are the characteristic cell-surface markers and its location of a lymphoid progenitor cell?

A

markers => CD10, CD19, CD20

location => thymus

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28
Q

What are the characteristic cell-surface markers and its location of a thymic stromal cell or epithelial cell?

A

markers => cytokeratins

location => thymus

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29
Q

What are the characteristic cell-surface markers and its location of a thymocyte?

A

markers => CD1

location => thymus

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30
Q

What are the characteristic cell-surface markers and its location of a T cell?

A

markers => CD3/TCR and CD4 or CD8

location => periphery

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31
Q

What is a cell that differentiates into cells that either kill target cells that bear their cognate peptide:MHC class I complex, or supply help to other immune cells via production of cytokines?

A

T cell

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32
Q

How do T cells recognize specific antigen? Where must the antigen be bound to?

A

bound to MHC complex on APCs

recognize antigen via TCR

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33
Q

What is the T cell receptor?

A

disulfide-linked heterodimer that consists of either an alpha and a Beta chain

or a gamma and a delta chain

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34
Q

Both chains of the TCR have what regions?

A

constant region and a variable (hypervariable) region, resembling the light chains of Ab molecules

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35
Q

amino-terminal segment of each chain contains what?

A

the variable domain,

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36
Q

and the constant domain is near

A
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37
Q

Other than the constant domain, what else can be found at the C-terminus of the TCR? What is the purpose for this region?

A

hinge-like region followed by a transmembrane region and a short cytoplasmic tail

region of the TCR anchors it into the membrane of T cells and allows some flexibility of the molecule (hinge region)

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38
Q

the TCR resembles (structurally and functionally) to what type of membrane-bound antibody?

A

Fab fragment

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39
Q

T/F variable regions of the TCR complex are constructed by a mechanism very similar to that of immunoglobulin variable region genes.

A

true

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40
Q

Describe the relationship of the a cassette system and the V region of the TCR complex

A

A cassette system (containing many gene segments) is used to randomly generate a huge repertoire of TCR molecules that differ primarily in their V regions (somatic recombination).

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41
Q

there are two lineages of T cells that develop in the thymus that are defined by what?

A

the T cell receptor (TCR) that they express

  1. gamma/delta TCR
  2. alpha/beta TCR
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42
Q

T/F gamma/delta T cells may or may not express CD4 or CD8 markers

A

true

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43
Q

T/F gamma/delta T cells are not MHC-restricted in their recognition of antigen

A

true

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44
Q

Where are most gamma/delta T cells found?

A

mucosal epithelium

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45
Q

T/F gamma/delta T cells have a large TCR repertoire

A

false, it is limited bc they primarily recognize non-protein antigenic determinants

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46
Q

What type of selction do gamma/delta T cells undergo? where do they mature?

A

T cells do not undergo conventional thymic selection and development; they mature extrathymically

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47
Q

What are co-receptors for the TCR that facilitate the interaction of TCR with the MHC complex on the antigen-presenting cell?

A

CD4 and CD8

48
Q

Why is protein tyrosine kinase necessary for T cells?

A
  • *cytoplasmic tails** of CD4 and CD8 associate with a protein tyrosine kinase which
  • *enhances TCR-induced activation** of the T cell upon interaction with an APC
49
Q

What type of T cell contains CD4?

A

CD4 is present on helper T cells.

50
Q

Describe the structure and what CD4 binds to

A

CD4 is a single-chain protein that has an extended structure.

CD4 binds (weakly) to MHC class II molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells

51
Q

What is the function of CD4 helper Tcells?

A
  • produce cytokines
  • provide help to B cells
  • stimulate cells of the innate immune system to increase their activity
52
Q

CD8 is present on what type of T cell?

A

CTL

53
Q

Describe the structure of CD8 and what it binds to

A

heterodimer formed by an and a chain that
are connected by a disulfide bond

binds (weakly) to MHC class I molecules on the surface of APCs or target cells

54
Q

T/F ALL nucleated cells express MHC I

A

true

55
Q

What is the function of CD8 T cells?

A
56
Q

In addition to TCR, what other surface proteins are expressed by T cells?

A
  1. CD3
  2. accessory molecules (CD45, CD28/CTLA-4, CD5, Fas ligand)
  3. adhesion molecules (LFA-1, CD2, VLA-4, VLA-5)
  4. lymphokine receptors
57
Q

Where is CD3 expressed and what is its function?

A

the CD3 complex is expressed on all T cells

serves as the signal transduction unit for the TCR

58
Q

What composes the CD3 complex wrt to chains?

A
  • 1 CD3 gamma chain,
  • one CD3 delta chain,
  • 2 CD3 epsilon chains
  • 1 zeta homodimer
59
Q

Describe the relationship of tyrosine protein kinase wrt to CD3

A

tyrosine protein kinases associate with the CD3 complex when antigen is bound to the TCR

enzymes promote cascade of protein phosphorylation and other events leading to activation of the T cell

60
Q

Accessory molecules on T cells interact with proteins on antigen-presenting cells and/or target cells leading to either of which 3 functions?

A

1) activation of the T cell,
2) tighter interaction between the T cell and the APC
3) killing of a target cell

61
Q

What is a (common leukocyte antigen) – a transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase that is involved in T cell activation? What form of the accessory moleculeis found on naive T cells? memory T cells?

A

CD45

CD45RA is found on naïve T cells,

CDR5RO is found on memory T cells

62
Q

What is the role of the accessory molecule CD28/CTLA-4?

A

binds to the B7 molecule on antigen-processing cells

63
Q

The CD28/CTLA-4 binding to B7 on the APC has what main role? Is it required?

A

delivers a costimulation signal to the T cell;

this signal (in combination with signaling through the
 TCR) is required for T cell activation
64
Q

What is present on all T cells? when it binds its ligand on B cells, what occurs?

A

CD5

65
Q

What is the role of the accessory T cell molecule Fas ligand?

A
  • binds to Fas that is expressed on a target cell
  • participates in initiation of apoptosis of the target cell
66
Q

What is the primary function of adhesion molecules wrt T cells?

A

strengthen the interaction between a T cell and antigen presenting cells or target cells;

may also promote activation

67
Q

What is the role of the adhesion molecule lymphocyte function antigen (LFA-1)?

A

interacts with the intracellular adhesion molecules
(ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and ICAM-3) on target cells

68
Q

What is the role of the adhesion molecule CD2?

A

binds to LFA-3 on target cells and promotes cell-to-cell adhesion and T cell activation

69
Q

What is the role of the adhesion molecule very late antigens (VLA-4, VLA-5)? Give when it is expressed

A

bind to fibronectin on target cells to enhance the interaction between the T cell and the target cell (promotes peptide sampling via the TCR)

expressed on activated cells later in the response;

70
Q

Why do T cells express many lymphokine receptors?

A

so that they can respond to the lymphokines produced by other cells that help to regulate T cell functions

71
Q

What is the role of lymphokine receptors?

A
72
Q

Describe the lobes of the thymus gland

A

encapsulated and bi-lobed

each lobe is separated into distinct lobules by trabeculae connected to a sinus beneath the capsule

73
Q

Each lobule of the thymus is separated into what?

A

a cortex and medulla

74
Q

Describe what is found in the cortex

A
  1. is very densely packed with thymocytes
  2. network of epithelial cells called cortical epithelial cells
75
Q

T/F cortical epithelial cells in the thymus express both MHC I and MHC II antigens

A

true

76
Q

T/F there are many macrophages but few bone marrow derived dendritic cells in the cortex

A

false, there are very few macrophages and bone marrow derived dendritic cells in the cortex

77
Q

What is the medulla populated with?

A
  1. medullary epithelial cells,
  2. dendritic cells (antigen-presenting cells),
  3. macrophages
78
Q

Of the cells within the medulla, which expresses MHC I? MHC II?

A

both express class II and class I MHC antigens

79
Q

T/F the human thymus is fully developed at birth

A

true

80
Q

the thymic cortex contains what cells?

A

only immature T cells (thymocytes)

scattered macrophages

81
Q

the rate of T cell production in the thymus is greatest when? What happens after?

A

before puberty;

after puberty, thymus begins to shrink

82
Q

once T cell repertoire has formed, what is required to maintain T cell mediated immunity?

A
83
Q

T/F shrinkage of the thymus is reversible

give reason

A

True

patient receives a bone marrow transplant following irradiation, the thymus is restored to its full size and activity until the patient’s new T cell repertoire is fully formed

84
Q

Describe the maturation process of pre-T cells to functional T cells

A
  1. pre-T cells from bone marrow enter cortex, => massive proliferation of T cell precursors (thymocytes) occurs
  2. positively selected thymocytes migrate from cortex to medulla to mature and become functional T cells
85
Q

T cell development in the thymus includes what?

A
86
Q

Define positive selection. Where it occurs and what happens to those who are not selected?

A

positive selection for T cells with TCR that can bind to self-MHC occurs in the cortex;

non- binders undergo apoptosis

87
Q

Define negative selection. Where does it occur?

A

negative selection for T cells that bind too tightly to self MHC+ self peptide occurs in the medulla

88
Q

What are tingible body macrophages? name function and how recognized within culture

A

apoptotic thymocytes are phagocytosed by thymic macrophages

cortical thymus macrophages have distinctive staining pattern due to the chromatin material of the phagocytosed thymocytes that were not positively selected and underwent apoptosis

89
Q

What will distinguish the different stages of thymocytes?

A

development of surface markers

90
Q

***What are the most important markers for T cells?***

(know these cold wrt location, function…)

A
  1. CD4
  2. CD8
  3. TCR:CD3 complex
91
Q

thymocytes entering the thymic cortex are what type of cells?

A

initially double negative: CD4-CD8-

92
Q

shortly after entering the thymic cortex from the bone marrow, what happens to the thymocytes?

A
93
Q

Describe an important characteristic about double positive thymocytes. What type of gene rearrangement occurs at this time?

A

CD4+CD8+ thymocytes are a rapidly dividing population

TCR (alpha and beta chain) gene rearrangement occurs within this rapidly dividing double positive population

94
Q

Describe positive selection wrt TCR and MHC

A

if the TCR expressed on the developing thymocyte binds to MHC (either class I or class II), it will receive survival signals and will continue to develop (positive selection)

95
Q

if the TCR has no affinity for MHC molecules, what occurs with the cell?

A
96
Q

double positive cells (CD4+CD8+) that survive positive selection have what fate?

A

differentiate to CD3-TCR+ single positive T cells: CD4+ or CD8+

97
Q

if the TCR binds to MHC class II, the developing thymocyte becomes what?

A
98
Q

if the TCR binds to MHC class I, the developing thymocyte becomes what?

A
99
Q

Where does positive selection take place?

A
100
Q

single positive TCR+ cells migrate to the medulla. what occurs there?

A

they undergo negative selection

101
Q

Describe negative selection wrt TCR and MHC

A

if the TCR binds to MHC-self peptide complexes on medullary APC too tightly, the cell is induced to undergo apoptosis (negative selection)

102
Q

Why are the positive and negative selections necessary for the T cell repertoire?

A

T cell precursors that arrive in thymus from bone marrow have genetic potential to generate TCRs w/ specificity for all potential MHC-peptide combinations

The selection processes that occur in the thymus eliminate these non- functional and self-reactive T cells from the repertoire.

103
Q

What is expressed on the T cells after entering the thymic cortex? Why is this a problem and what occurs after? What will allow the T cell to continue to develop?

A

• thymocytes rapidly become TCR+CD4+ CD8+ after entering the thymic cortex

possible autoimmunity so => these “double positive” thymocytes undergo positive selection to select for cells that bind to self MHC molecules

104
Q

thymic epithelial cells in the cortex express what type of MHC

A
105
Q

What will allow the T cell to continue to develop? What will cause them to stop development and what is their fate?

A

•• cells that bind MHC molecules are positively selected to continue development

thymocytes that are not selected undergo apoptosis and are removed by macrophages

106
Q

***Why is positive selection for double positve T cells vital?***

A

the function of mature T cells depends on their ability to bind to either MHC class I or MHC class II molecules

if the TCR has no affinity for MHC, then no sampling of T cell receptor complexes for cognate peptide antigen will be possible

107
Q

double positive cells (CD4+CD8+) that survive positive selection differentiate to what?

A

TCR+CD3+ single positive T cells: CD4+ or CD8+

108
Q

bone marrow derived APCs in cortico-medullary junction and in medulla present what?

A
109
Q

What are responsible for negative selection of self-reactive T cells?

A

thymic medullary APC (i.e. tingible body macrophages)

110
Q

single positive T cells (CD4+ or CD8+ T cells) that survive the positive selection process are then subjected to negative selection. What does this process have as a result?

A

remove cells that bind the self antigens (peptides) bound to self MHC complexes

111
Q

Negative selection occurs where?

A

negative selection process takes place in the thymic medulla

112
Q

What is a transcription factor that causes the expression of several hundred host tissue-specific proteins by a subset of epithelial cells in the medullary region of the thymus?

A

autoimmune regulator enzyme (AIRE)

113
Q

How does AIRE increase the efficiency of negative selection in the thymic medulla?

A

expression makes them available for uptake by medullary APCs.

Once taken up, they are processed and peptides derived from them are presented in context of MHC I and MHC II molecules on APCs and are presented to naïve T cells

114
Q

If a patient presents with a broad-spectrum autoimmune disease, what would you expect the patient to be deficient in? What gene is affected?

A
  • inability to increase the efficiency of negative selection in the thymic medulla

patients that lack a functional AIRE gene typically present with a broad-spectrum autoimmune disease known as autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 or autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED)

115
Q
A