Name: Bibek Biswakarma Date: 11 th Oct 2021

Student no. 19-2-02646 Course: BS BIO 4-1

Immunology
Assignment 5: Cell Mediated Immune Response

1. What are the components of the TCR complex? Which of these

components are responsible for antigen recognition and which for signal
transduction?
 The T cell receptor (TCR) complex is made up of the TCR a and b chains,
which are responsible for antigen recognition, and the CD3 complex and z
homodimers, which are required for signal transduction.

2. What are some of the accessory molecules that T cells use to initiate their
responses to antigens, and what are the functions of these molecules?
 Molecules used by T cells to respond to antigens include the CD4 and
CD8 coreceptors, which bind to class II and class I MHC molecules,
respectively; costimulatory receptors such as CD28, which bind to
costimulators expressed on activated APCs; and adhesion molecules
such as the integrin LFA-1, which mediate T-cell adhesion to APCs and
also control the migration of the T cells.

3. What is costimulation? What is the physiologic signifi cance of

costimulation? What are some of the ligand-receptor pairs that are involved in
costimulation?
 Costimulation refers to signals delivered to a lymphocyte that are required
for lymphocyte activation but are independent of antigen receptor
signaling. Costimulatory signals are commonly referred to as a "second
signal" and provide lymphocytes with the information that the antigen they
are recognizing may be of microbial origin. B7-1 and B7-2 are the major
costimulators on antigen-presenting cells, which bind to CD28 on T cells.

4. Summarize the links between antigen recognition, the major biochemical

signaling pathways in T cells, and the production of transcription factors.
 Antigen recognition results in coreceptors in T cells bringing the Lck
tyrosine kinase in proximity to CD3 and z chain ITAMs. Phosphorylation of
 the ITAMs results in the recruitment and activation of ZAP-70 tyrosine
kinase, which in turn initiates many different signaling pathways by
activating different downstream enzymes. Some of these pathways
include activation of phospholipase Cg, resulting in calcium signaling and
the subsequent activation of the NFAT transcription factor; activation of
PKCF, resulting in the activation of the NF-κB transcription factor; and
activation of MAP kinases, leading to the production of the AP-1
transcription factor.

5. What is the principal growth factor for T cells? Why do antigen-specifi c T

cells expand more than other (“bystander”) T cells on exposure to an antigen?
 The major growth factor for T cells is interleukin-2 (IL-2). It is produced by
T cells in response to antigen receptor signals and costimulation. T cells
that have recognized antigens express increased levels of receptors for
IL-2 and thus preferentially respond to the growth factor during immune
responses to the antigens.

6. What are the major subsets of CD4+ helper T cells, and how do they differ?
 The different CD4+ T helper cell subsets that have been identified
include T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th9, Th17, and Th22 cells, along with
follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs). CD4+ cells
can differentiate into various Th subsets based on environmental
cytokines.

7. What signals are required to induce the responses of CD8+ T cells?

 Activation of naive CD8 T cells to undergo clonal expansion and develop
effector function requires three signals: (a) Ag, (b) costimulation, and (c)
IL-12 or adjuvant. The requirement for the third signal to stimulate Ag-
dependent proliferation is variable, making the greatest contribution when
Ag levels are low.