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Related Concept Videos

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

Antigen receptors are essential components of the immune system crucial in defending the body against foreign invaders. These receptors are present on the surface of B and T cells, enabling them to recognize antigens and mount an appropriate immune response.
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...

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Related Experiment Video

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Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric Analysis
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Ligand recognition during thymic development and gammadelta T cell function specification.

Christina Meyer1, Xun Zeng, Yueh-Hsiu Chien

  • 1Program in Immunology, Beckman Building, 279 Campus Drive B253, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Seminars in Immunology
|May 1, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Thymic development shapes gammadelta T cell effector functions, not antigen specificity. These versatile immune cells rapidly produce cytokines like IL-17 and IFN-gamma upon activation, enabling swift responses to pathogens and injury.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • T cell biology

Background:

  • Gammadelta T cells are a distinct lineage of T lymphocytes that develop in the thymus.
  • Recent research indicates thymic programming influences gammadelta T cell effector functions rather than antigen specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how thymic development dictates the effector fate of gammadelta T cells.
  • To understand the cytokine production profiles of gammadelta T cells based on their thymic experience.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gammadelta T cell populations post-thymic development.
  • T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation assays to assess cytokine production.
  • Characterization of cytokine profiles (IL-17, IFN-gamma, IL-4) following TCR engagement.

Main Results:

  • Ligand-naïve gammadelta T cells produce IL-17 upon TCR triggering.
  • Ligand-experienced gammadelta T cells generate IFN-gamma.
  • Strongly self-reactive gammadelta T cells are associated with IL-4 production.
  • Gammadelta T cells exhibit rapid cytokine production immediately after TCR engagement.

Conclusions:

  • Thymic development is critical in determining the effector cytokine profile of gammadelta T cells.
  • The ability of gammadelta T cells to rapidly produce cytokines facilitates immediate inflammatory responses.
  • Gammadelta T cells play a significant role in initiating immune responses against pathogens and in tissue injury settings.