Theme 4 - 4c (GOD, B cells, antibodies) Flashcards
what does GOD stand for
generation of diversity
what are the 3 basic principles of the adaptive immune system
- start with DIVERSE REPETOIRE of receptors so that there is more chance of finding a match to the pathogen
- expand (and in some cases improve) the matched cell
- maintain some of these matched cells for future “memory” against the pathogen
what is the primary response to an antigen in the adaptive immune response
- IgM is detected in the serum first, but falls off rapidly
- becomes switched antibody: IgG and IgA synthesis builds to maxiums over a LONGER PERIOD and becomes the predominant one
- drop-off in serum IgG/IgA is later than for IgM
what is the secondary response to an antigen in the adaptive immune response
(ie the second time you are exposed to an antigen you’ve been exposed to before)
- secondary response is a CONSEQUENT response to the same antigen
- same IgM response as in primary repsonse
- HOWEVER, SWITCHED ANTIBODY RESPONSE IS MUCH MORE RAPID AND REACHES A HIGHER TITRE
- the drop off in serum IgG/IgA is later than for IgM
why is the adaptive immune system important
we can’t make enough pattern recognition receptors to deal with all pathogens, especially since many pathogens can evolve faster than us
how many different B and T cell receptors do we need?
- there are ~500,000 different species of of pathogens
- total est no of HUMAN GENES is ONLY 20,000-25,000
describe the BCR (adaptive i.s)
- heavy and light chain
- membrane bound OR soluble as ANTIBODY
- recognises antigens on whole molecules
- can be different isotypes depending on the Fc
describe the TCR (adaptive i.s)
- γδ or αβ T cells
- membrane bound
- recognises peptide antigen presented to it by MHC on other cells
what is a plasma cell derived from, what does it do
- derived from B cells
- produces ANTIBODIES
- plasma cells has HIGH ER for synthesis of antibody
what does Fc region stand for on BCR
what does it do
- Fragment constant region (the FUNCTIONAL REGION)
- the other part is Fragment variable region (has diversity)
- antibodies can have specificity for a certain antibody, but the Fc region CAN BE CHANGED O different FUNCTIONS
how does the B cell start off
what can BCR recognise
what can B cells differentiate into
- start off as cells with receptor on surface of the cell
- receptor recognises WHOLE ANTIGEN (without need for fragmentation or presentation)
- differentiate into PLASMA CELLS that secrete the receptor as an ANTIBODY
- ANTIBODY can bind to WHOLE PATHOGENS and faciliate a range of functions (depending on its Fc region)
what are the roles of antibody
1) NEUTRALISES toxins and viruses by blocking their interaction with cells (as antibodies are LARGE)
2) OPSONISES pathogens to promote PHAGOCYTOSIS and killing activity by other cells
3) ACTIVATES the COMPLEMENT CASCADE which helps kill pathogens
4) AGGLUTINATES particles (pathogen debris, viruses etc)
5) mediates ANTIBODY DEPENDENT CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY (ADCC)
as well as synthesising antibodies what is another key role of B cells
they are APCs to T cells
what is the structure of an antibody
- variable region with 2 BINDING SITES which determine the ANTIGEN SPECIFICITY
- Fv region
- Fc region - constant region which determines the CLASS of the antibody and O function
- has 2x heavy and light chain
what is the role of the Fc region of an antibody
it is the functional region of the antibody, it determines which CLASS of antibody the antibody is in
how does a B cell change after it has seen antigen?
it undergoes CLASS SWITCHING
- the Fc (which determines class) undergoes the switch (eg from IgM to IgG or IgA)
- the Fv region is unchanged to keep the antigen specificity
what controls the class switching process
- THE CYTOKINE ENVIRONMENT
- O the change is FUNCTION specific
- also CD40Ligand (found on helper T cells- which secrete cytokines)
what can cause class switching of a B cell from IgM to IgG
- if there is a lot of IFNγ secreted by helper T cell
what can cause class switching of a B cell from IgM to IgA
- if there is a lot of TGF-β, a mucosal tissue cytokine release
is antibody specificity changed during class switching
no , as the Fv region stays the same
how do cells have specificity for different antibodies how does class switching affect this
they may have receptors for a specific type eg IgA - by class switching, you change the Fc region O you change the antibody, O you change the cells that it will bind to
what is IgA structure
where is it found/secreted
it is DIMERISED which PROTECTS it
- it is secreted across mucosal epithelium into GUT
- it could be DIGESTED in the gut but dimerisation PROTECTS it from that
what is the structure of IgM
- can form pentamer
- has many binding sites
- latge molecule O it is not v good at diffusing through tissues
when is diversity initially generated
where for B and T cells
- it is gene rearrangement and heterodimer formation
- happens when cells are fist formed (before they see exogenous antigen)
- in B cells this occurs in the BONE MARROW
- in T cells it occurs in the THYMUS