Theme 3- 3b (Antigens and Antigen receptors pt 2 ) Flashcards
what are the antigen presenting molecules used by T cells
what are their classes
MHC class I MHC class II
what is a paratope
antigen binding site
what can T cells bind to
the bind LINEAR ARRAYS of approx 9 aa via TCR
- NOT native Ag
- Ag is broken down to primary structure (PROCESSED) and PRESENTED to the T cell by molecules on the surface of Ag presenting cells (eg macrophages and dendritic cells)
what are the similarities between the BCR and TCR
- TCRs are similar to Fab fragment of B cell
- both TCR and BCR are composed of: 2 different peptide chains, variable region for binding antigen, constant regions, hinge regions
what are the differences between the BCR and TCR
TCR only has ONE antigen binding site
BCR has TWO
what are the TWO TYPES of TCR
αβ and γδ - with distinct functions
- which type is dependant on which genes encode the protein
describe the structure of TCR
VARIABLE REGION: made of of the V domains (Vα/Vβ or Vγ/Vδ) for antigen binding
CONSTANT REGION: made up of the C domains (Cα/Cβ or Cγ/Cδ)
do TCRs have a non membrane bound secretion
no, they are always membrane bound
how many antigen binding sites do TCRs have
ONE
does TCR have signalling molecules?
no- O it uses CD3 (an accessory molecule) instead
what is the structure of CD3
look at slide 8 for diagram
consists of 6 polypeptides:
ζζ, γε and εδ dimers
- ζ chains have 3 ITAMs
- γ, ε and δ have extracellular Ig folds and one ITAM apiece
TCRs can either be CD… or CD…?
what does this give rise to
CD4 or CD8
- CD4 or CD8 give ANOTHER WAY of TCR BINDING to the MHC
- this gives some SELECTIVITY
what are the TCR and CD3 held together by
electrostatic interactions, forming a compact structure in the T cell surface
what does each T cell have multiple copies of
where is this randomly generated
MULTIPLE copies of a SINGLE variant of the TCR, randomly generated in the THYMUS
describe T cell development
- THYMOCYTES enter the thymus not expressing the TCR or co-receptors (CD4/CD8)
- REARRANGEMENT of the DVJ segments of genes encoding α and β chains
- gives each cell a UNIQUE TCR to recognise an epitope
- if a FUNCTIONAL TCR is not formed (non-productive rearrangement), the T cell DIES by apoptosis
what % of thymocytes that enter the thymus actually become T cells
5% (rest die by apoptosis)
antibodies deal best antigens where
give examples
antigens that are outside the cell (eg bacteria outside cells/viruses outside of cells)
T cells are v good at attacking what type of antigen
give examples
antigens WITHIN CELLS so we want to KILL the cell (endogenous antigens)
eg virally infected cells/tumour cells
what do MOST T cells recognise
ONLY peptides
- T cells are specfic for AMINO ACID sequences of peptides
what has to occur for T cells to recognise and respond to FOREIGN peptide antigens
antigen has to be presented by MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX (MHC)
CD8 class T cells recognise what type of MHC class
MHC class I
CD4 class T cells recognise what type of MHC class
MHC class II
what is the purpose of the CD4/CD8 molecules
Whilst the TCR recognises and binds the peptide/MHC molecule complex, the CD4 and CD8 molecules also interact with and bind the MHC molecule ensuring stability of the ‘immunological synapse’
in T cell antigen recognition, what is the epitope of the antigen comprised of
some aa from the PRESENTED PEPTIDE
also SOME PARTS of the MHC
how are T cells activated
1) VARIABLE regions of the TCR αβ chains interact with the peptide in the MHC
2) EPITOPE and PARATOPE must ‘fit’ together
3) after binding of MHC-peptide on the APC with the TCR, either CD4 or CD8 join the complex
4) cellular KINASES and the ITAMs of CD3 initiate T cell activation
how do we ensure T cells are only activated by an antigen
CO-STIMULATORY molecules
- CD28 on the T cell and CD80/86 on APC have to interact
- CD80/86 is NOT PRESENT unless it has been activated by INNATE immunity
how many types of receptor does each B or T cell express
ONE receptor that is specific for ONE antigen
how many BCR (Ig) are there
5x10^13
but this is even higher bc of somatic hypermutation/ affinity maturation
how many TCR are there
1x10^18
what is clonal proliferation
when does it occur
what does it produce
when BCR or antigen or TCR are activated, they undergo clonal proliferation:
the activated cell proliferates O MILLIONS of the cell that can recognise the antigen
- produces TWO TYPES OF CELL:
- EFFECTOR CELLS (aid in antigen/pathogen removal)
- MEMORY CELL (aid in secondary immune responses)
what is a POLYCLONAL response
- pathogens may have MANY antigens each having SEVERAL EPITOPES: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, metabolites
- POLYCLONAL response: many clones of B and T cells will expand as they recognise the different antigens and/or different epitopes within them
what is antigen processing
how complex antigens/proteins are BROKEN down into peptides and loaded into molecules for PRESENTATION to T cells
MHC is encoded by what genes
HLA genes
what are the 4 main groups of HLA genes
- HLA-A, HLA-B & HLA-C region genes (are for MHC CLASS I)
- HLA-D [actually called HLA-DP, HLA-DQ and HLA-DR] (are for MHC CLASS II)
what does HLA stand for
human leukocyte antigens
describe MHC class I
- on ALL nucleated cells and platelets
- targets for GRAFT REJECTION
- involved in Ag recognition of VIRALLY infected cells
- Present peptides to CD8+ T cells (cytotoxic T cells) so essential in viral infections or recognition of altered self (such as tumour cells)
what is the structure of MHC class I
- a1 and a2 domains consist of 4 b strands and an a helix
- these form a groove or cleft which is the Ag-binding site of the molecule
where is class I MHC found give examples
on antigen presenting cells (APCs)
eg dendritic cells, macrophages, B cells
what is the role of class II MHC
which structure forms the peptide binding site
- Ag presentation to T cells (CD4+ helper T cells), where the T cell can be activated an dundergo proliferation ad cytokine secretion
- a1 and b1 domains form peptide binding site like Class I
what is a size difference in MHC class I and II what is the difference in aa number that each class can bind
MHC class I has slightly smaller groove
- 8-10 aa peptides can bind to MHC class I
- 13-18 aa peptides can bind to MHC class II
why is there a difference in size between MHC class I and II
MHC class II is comprised of more chains O has the flexibility to accomodate larger peptides
why does each MHC molecule display ONE peptide at a time
each T cell responds to a SINGLE peptide bound to an MHC molecule
why do MHC molecules have low affinity and broad specificty
so many different peptides can bind to the same MHC molecule
why do MHC molecules acquire peptides during intracellular assembly
both class I and II MHC molecules display peptides from DIFFERENT cellular compartments
why do MHC molecules have a very slow off-rate (once peptides are bound they stay there for a DAYS -long time)
to allow the bound peptide to be there long enough to be LOCATED by a T cell
why is it important that for an MHC to be stable a peptide bound is req
MHC without peptides are very unstable O taken back into cell and endocytosed
- only MH that are displaying peptides are expressed for recognition by T cells
what do MHC molecules ONLY bind to
peptides