T cell polarisation and biomarkers Flashcards
What cells give rise to most cells in the IS?
Progenitors
What do lymphocytes look like?
Small cells with relatively large nuclei
Key features of T cells
Develop in the thymus
Bear an antigen specific receptor - TCR
Interact with APCs to see antigen
What is a common feature of all T cells?
All bear an antigen specific receptor TCR
What happens to T cells upon interactions with APCs bearing antigens?
The T cells proliferate if they recognise the antigen
Make large population of clones
Release cytokines
What is a thymocyte?
An early T cell that is developing in the thymus
What is the major feature of naive alpha beta T cells when they leave the thymus?
They comit to expressing only either CD4 or CD8 proteins on their surface
What is the difference between alpha beta T cells and gamma delta T cells?
Alpha beta T cells express CD4 or CD8 proteins on their surface
Gamma delta T cells don’t express either CD4/CD8
What class of MHC molecules do CD 4 T cells bind to?
MHC II
How do CD 4 T cells recognise antigens?
Presented on MHC II on APCs
What is the role of CD 4 T cells?
Make cytokines - provide help to other immune cells
Instruct and orchestrate the immune response
What is the common name for CD 4 T cells?
T helper cells
What class of MHC proteins do CD 8 T cells bind to?
MHC I
How do CD 8 T cells recognise antigens?
Bind to MHC I on infected cells
On which cells are MHC I molecules found?
On all somatic nucleated cells of vertebrates
What is the role of CD 8 T cells?
Kill target cells - virally infected and tumour cells
Make cytokines
What is the common name for CD 8 T cells?
Cytotoxic T cells
What is CD 3?
Name given to a collection of molecules that all T cells express on their surface
Coreceptors needed for T cells to perform normal function
On which T cells are TCRs expressed?
On all T cells
What are the two regions of the TCR?
Constant region - doesn’t vary much
Variable region - unique to each T cell
What does the high variability of the TCR variable region allow T cells to do?
Allows them to recognise different MHC combinations
What is the source of the large repertoire of T cells?
Large variety TCRs produced by the body
The functional population of T cells is as large as the potential repertoire
TRUE or FALSE
FALSE
The functional population of T cells is not as large as the potential repertoire
Number of different TCRs made by the thymus is bigger than the total lymphocyte count
What do CD 4 and CD 8 molecules bind to?
Non-polymorphic residues on MHC I or II
What does thymic selection do to the bond between MHC and TCR?
Strengthens it
The TCRs with the highest affinity are selected
Why do we need the CD 4/8 to bind to MHC molecules?
TCR has a relatively week biochemical binding
If the only interaction between APCs and T cells was between TCRs and MHC the cells would come apart before anything could happen
What does binding between TCR and MHC do to intracellular environment of the T cell?
Recruits signaling molecules to the immunological patch
Drives cytoskeletal movements in the T cells
CD 4 cells can be subdivided depending on the cytokines produced
TRUE or FALSE
TRUE