3. Type of blood cell
Belong to a group of white blood cells (WBCs) called
lymphocytes.WBCs protect the body from infection.
The main job of T-cells is to fight infection.
There are a number of different types of T-cells that act
in many ways to identify, directly attack and destroy
infectious agents.
Along with other WBCs, they play a major role in the
immune system, which guards the body against infection.
T- CELL
4.
5. Two types of lymphocytes
◦ B lymphocytes – oversee humoral immunity
◦ T lymphocytes – non-antibody-producing cells
that constitute the cell-mediated arm of
immunity
Antigen-presenting cells (APCs):
◦ Do not respond to specific antigens
◦ Play essential auxiliary roles in immunity
6. Lymphocytes
Immature lymphocytes released from
bone marrow are essentially identical
Whether a lymphocyte matures into a B
cell or a T cell depends on where in the
body it becomes immune competent
◦ B cells mature in the bone marrow
◦ T cells mature in the thymus
7. Thymus
•The thymus is an organ located in
the upper chest.
•Immature lymphocytes leave the
bone marrow and find their way to
the thymus where they are
“educated” to become mature T-
lymphocytes.
12. Types of T-cell
•T helper cells (TH cells)
•Cytotoxic T cells (TC cells, or CTLs)
•Regulatory T cells (Treg cells), formerly
known as suppressor T cells
•Memory T cell
15. T-cell receptor
The T cell receptor or TCR is a
molecule found on the surface
of T lymphocytes (or T cells)
that is responsible for
recognizing antigens bound to
major histocompatibility
complex (MHC) molecules.
16. Structure of T-Cell Receptor
Heterodimer
(α+β chain linked
together by a disulfide
bridge)
Constant Region
(anchor the receptor to
the plasma membrane)
Variable Region
(contact the antigen)
17. Structure of the T cell Receptor
Each T cell bears
TCRs of only one
specificity (allelic
exclusion)
18. Structure of the T cell Receptor
Both α and β chains
have a variable (V)
and constant (C)
region
V regions of the α
and β chains contain
hyper variable
regions that
determine the
specificity for
antigen
20. There were three kinds of molecules
encoded by the MHC
◦ Class I
◦ Class II
◦ Class III
Class I MHC molecules are found on all
nucleated cells (not RBCs)
Class II MHC molecules are found on APC
◦ Dendritic cells, Macrophages, B cells, other cells
23. THE ROLE OF THE MHC
In infected cells, MHC molecules bind and transport
antigen fragments to the cell surface, a process called
antigen presentation.
A nearby T cell can then detect the antigen fragment
displayed on the cell’s surface
Depending on their source, peptide antigens are
handled by different classes of MHC molecules:
Class I MHC molecules are found on almost all
nucleated cells of the body
They display peptide antigens to cytotoxic T cells
Class II MHC molecules are located mainly on dendritic
cells, macrophages, and B cells
Dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells are antigen-
presenting cells that display antigens to cytotoxic T
cells and helper T cells.
24. Infected cell
Antigen
fragment
Class I MHC
molecule
T cell
receptor
(a)
Antigen
associates
with MHC
molecule
T cell
recognizes
combination
Cytotoxic T cell (b) Helper T cell
T cell
receptor
Class II MHC
molecule
Antigen
fragment
Antigen-
presenting
cell
Microbe
1
1
1
2
2
2
25. Key Steps in T cell Activation
APC must process and present peptides to T cells
T cells must receive a costimulatory signal
Accessory adhesion molecules help to stabilize
binding of T cell and APC
Signal from cell surface is transmitted to nucleus
Cytokines produced to help drive cell division
◦ IL-2 and others