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Learning Objectives: T Cells

Reading Assignment: Chapters 3 and 5, The Immune System by Parham

Supplementary Materials: MHC, TCR, T Cell Development, ToolBox

T Cells are the lymphocytes that are activated by specific antigen to become helper and cytotoxic T cells and memory T cells. This unit describes the antigen recognition molecules of T cells (TCR), antigen processing and presentation on MHC, the genes that encode TCR a and b chains, and the gene recombination and signaling steps required to produce each antigen-specific Th or Tc cell from a lymphoid progenitor.

The Learning Objectives pages list the key concepts you should know from each section of the course. You are also expected to know the words bolded in the text. In addition to The Immune System by Parham, study aids include online Tutorials with study questions and a ToolBox containing a Glossary, Reading and Writing About Immunology, and information about immunological techniques.

When you finish T Cells, you should be able to

Compare and contrast the structures of TCR and BCR.
Sketch the gene regions for TCR a and b chains and compare and contrast them with the genes for H and L chains.
Describe which gene segments are required to encode TCR a and b chains.
Describe the functional TCR complex, including CD4 and CD8.
Sketch MHC Class I and Class II molecules. Compare them with each other and with BCR and TCR molecules. What is the Ig superfamily of molecules?
Describe antigen processing and presentation on MHC Class I. Which cells are capable of presenting antigen on MHC Class I? Which T cells see/recognize/bind peptide on MHC Class I?
Describe antigen processing and presentation on MHC Class II. Which cells are capable of presenting antigen on MHC Class II? Which T cells see/recognize/bind peptide on MHC Class II?
Define a superantigen. Give a specific example and explain what makes it "super".
Explain inheritance of MHC Class I and Class II molecules and describe how this impacts organ transplantation.
Explain how a single Class I MHC can present many different peptides.
Describe the thymus and the cell types found in the cortical and medullary regions.
Describe flow cytometry and be able to interpret data obtained by flow.
Describe T cell development. Include the membrane receptors produced at each stage.
Describe positive and negative selection of T cells. Include the thymic location of each process and explain how selection generates non self-specific Tc and Th cells that are restricted to recognizing antigen on MHC Class I or Class II.
Apply this information to a clinical case - be able to compare and contrast T and B cell recognition molecules.

http://microvet.arizona.edu/Courses/MIC419web/LOTcells.html
Written by Janet M. Decker, PhD jdecker@u.arizona.edu
Last modified June 9, 2003