L8: B cell-mediated immunity I Flashcards
(53 cards)
What is the main function of B cells?
produce antibodies
What is somatic hypermutation?
allows B cell responses to increase in affinity as they develop
What is isotype switching and what benefit does it provide?
Allows B cell responses to be tailored to best deal with the particular pathogen
How can B cell responses be retained?
In the form of memory B cells, providing lon-lived immunity to re-infection
What is the first signal of activation for a B cell? The second?
First is recognition of its cognate determinant in an antigen by BCR.
Second is activation by TH1 or TH2 cell.
Where do B cells proliferate and differentiate?
In germinal centers
What is the signal transduction unit for the BCR?
the Ig-alpha and Ig-beta complex.
This requires cross-linking of multiple antigen-receptor complexes
What is complement receptor 2 (CR2)?
It is the B cell co-receptor. It binds to a breakdown product of C3b (C3d)
If a B cell is activated, but there are no activated effector T cells, what is the antigen likely? What else could it be?
the antigen is likely a self-molecule and this is a method of tolerance.
It could also be a non-protein determinant of a pathogen.
What is a T-independent antigen?
a non-protein antigen that can elicit B cell activation in the absence of T cell help
What are TI-1 antigens? How do they work?
TI-1 antigens have an intrinsic capacity for inducing B cell proliferation. They engage the BCR as well as the pattern-recognition receptors on B cells. AKA mitogens
What are TI-2 antigens? How do they work?
TI-2 antigens act by heavily crosslinking BCRs on the surface of the B cell.they are usually composed of cell wall polysaccharides.
What will high concentrations of mitogen do?
polyclonaly activate B cells. This only happens in lab experiments
What can low concentrations of TI-1 mitogens do?
elicit an antigen-specific IgM response
Can infants have a TI-2 antigen response?
no. It takes 1-5 months for B1 B cell populations to build up
Where are germinal centers established?
within lympoid follicles
What is happening in germinal centers?
somatic hypermutation results in B cells with higher or lower affinity for antigen.
Cytokines produced by helper T cells promote isotype switching
Positively selected high-affinity isotype-switched B cells differentiate into memory and plasma cells.
What does IL-5 promote class switching to?
Augments production to produce IgA
What does IL-4 do?
Induces change to IgE
Can plasma cells be induced to proliferate?
No, they are permanently differentiated.
Do plasma cells have Surface MHC class II?
No
Do plasma cells have surface Ig?
No
Do plasma cells have high-rate Ig secretion?
Yes. primary function is to secrete Abs.
Where is IgM primarily found?
In the blood