Immunology

anergy

Anergy (immunologic tolerance) refers to the failure to mount a full immune response against a target.

Anergy toward self-targets operates as one self-tolerance mechanism to control the autoreactive cells found in autoimmunity. Clonal deletion in which lymphocytes are killed if they recognize a self-antigen during their maturation in the thymus gland or bone marrow is a major mechanism for the prevention of autoimmunity. However, not all human self-antigens are expressed in the central lymphoid organs where the lymphocytes are developing. Thus, self-tolerance to an individual's own antigens must also depend on mechanisms such as clonal anergy. Theoretically, recognition of a self-antigen eliminates the proliferative capacity of autoreactive lymphocytes in the peripheral immune system. Another process, immunoregulation, utilizes regulatory T cells that weaken harmful or inappropriate lymphocyte responses.

In B cell anergy, self-reactive B cells persist in the periphery yet remain unresponsive to immunogen. Research findings indicate that continuous binding of antigen and subsequent receptor signaling are essential for the maintenance of anergy.[n]

T cell anergy is induced when TCR stimulation "freezes" T cell responses until they receive an adequate subsequent antigenic signal from an antigen-presenting cell. Such APC signals can rescue T cells from anergy, stimulating them to produce the lymphokines necessary for the growth of additional T cells.

During a productive immune response, CD4+ T cells respond to effective signals by producing interleukin 2 (IL-2) and by proliferating. Effective signals stimulate require both ligation of TCRs with cognate antigens presented by class II MHC molecules on the surface of APCs and activation of costimulatory receptors, such as CD28, which recognize ligands such as B7 proteins expressed on the surface of APCs.

When T cells receive stimulus only TCR signals in the absence of engagement of costimulatory receptors, they enter a state of anergic unresponsiveness characterized by an inability to produce IL-2 or to proliferate upon re-stimulation. Such anergic T cells show a profound block in Ras/MAPK pathway that prevents activation of the AP-1 family of transcription factors (Fos/Jun).

GRAIL (gene related to anergy in lymphocytes) is GRAIL is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is necessary for the induction of CD4+ T cell anergy in vivo. It is upregulated in naturally occurring (thymically derived) CD4+ and CD25+ cells [a] and anergized T cells [1]. Both GRAIL and Foxp3 are genotypic marker for CD25+ Treg cells. T cell activation appears to be controlled by Foxp3 through transcriptional regulation of early growth response (Egr) genes Egr-2 and Egr-3, and E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase genes Cblb [?], Itch [?] and GRAIL, subsequently affecting degradation of two key signaling proteins, PLCgamma1 and PKC-theta. [a]

It is believed that GRAIL could induce anergy through ubiquitylation of membrane-associated targets required for T-cell activation. It has been demonstrated that two isoforms of otubain-1, in conjunction with the deubiquitylating enzyme USP8, produce opposing effects on the expression and function of GRAIL in the induction of anergy.[2] GRAIL is differentially expressed in naturally occurring and peripherally induced CD25+ Treg cells where the expression of GRAIL has been suggested is linked to their functional "regulatory" activity.

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cellular response

Cellular responses to invading pathogens utilize phagocytic and cytotoxic cells of the innate and adaptive immune responses.

The immune system is intimately connected with the hematologic system since white blood cells (leukocytes, including B- and T-lymphocytes) are key players in the lymphoid system.
Cellular participants in the immune and inflammatory responses include :
phagocytic cells (dendritic cells, monocytes and macrophages, and granulocytes)
antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells, macrophages, B lymphocytes, helper T cells, γδ T cells)
antibody producing cells (plasma cells)
cytotoxic cells (CTL, NK)
● regulatory cells (APCs, helper T cells, regulatory T cells)
● cells-in-waiting (memory B cells, monocytes)
● chemical releasing cells (basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils; mast cells - histamine, cytokines; hepatocytes - complement proteins)

Innate responses solely comprise cellular immune responses employ phagocytic cells that are circulating or tissue emplaced – granulocytes, monocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, natural killer T cells, and B lymphocytes. The innate response induces (triggers) the adaptive system, the cellular component of which relies upon activated macrophages, T-lymphocytescytotoxic T lymphocytes (killer T cells).

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costimulation

Costimulation involves ligand-receptor interactions at the surfaces of a responder lymphocyte and an "accessory" cell – APCs for activation of T cells, and helper T cells for activation of B cells.

activation B : activation T : anergy : CD28 receptor : CD28RE : CDC42 : costimulatory molecules : first/second signals : helper T cell : IL-2 : MAPK cascade : MHC class II : negative regulators : Rac : regulatory mechanisms : Rel-NFkB : Rho GTPases : TCR engagement : TCR threshold reduction : transcription factors : WASP

Activation of B cells occurs when a BCR (antibody) encounters and ligates its cognate antigen. Naïve B cells each have one of millions of distinct surface antigen-specific receptors, yet have not encountered their specific, cognate antigen. With a life-span of only a few days, many B cells die without ever encountering their cognate antigen. In most cases, B-cell activation is dependent upon costimulation by an activated helper T cell that has itself been activated by the same antigen. (click images to enlarge)

Unlike T cells, B cells are coated in immunoglobulin receptors and are able to recognize intact antigen, which they engulf, digest, and subsequently present in complex with surface MHC class II molecules. The MHC-peptide complex binds CD4 + helper T cells (Th), inducing secretion of cytokines that stimulate B cell proliferation and their differentiation into plasma cells, which secrete specific antibodies that bind with the cognate antigen. These antigen-antibody complexes are subsequently cleared by liver and spleen cells and the classical complement cascade.

Activation of T cells requires (1) TCR engagement, which ensures antigen specificity and MHC restriction of the response. However, synergistic signaling by (2) costimulatory molecules is also necessary to sustain and integrate TCR signaling to stimulate optimal T cell proliferation and differentiation.

Delivery of first signal (TCR engagement) in the absence of costimulation by a second signal(s) results in apoptosis or anergy. Anergic T cells neither produce IL-2 nor proliferate upon restimulation. This requirement of naïve T cell activation for delivery of both antigen-specific and costimulatory signals implies that only professional antigen presenting cells can initiate T cell responses.

Activation-regulatory mechanisms:
● increasing TCR avidity (adhesion molecules)
● enhancing recruitment of tyrosine kinases to the TCR complex coreceptors (CD4 and CD8)
● costimulation involving reciprocal and sequential signals between cells

Negative regulators of costimulation include receptors that bind B7 family members:
CTLA-4
● PD-1

Molecules involved in costimulation include:
1. Disulfide-linked homodimers that bind to distinct members of the B7 family of surface proteins
---CD28
---● ICOS (inducible costimulator) molecules
2. Members of the TNF receptor (TNFR) family
---CD40, the major B cell costimulatory molecule
---CD30
---CD27
---● OX-40
---● 4-1BB

The CD28 receptor is involved in the best characterized costimulatory pathway. CD28 is the primary costimulatory molecule for naïve T cells, although CD4+ helper T cells are more dependent than are CD8+ killer T cells on CD28 costimulation. CD28 binds the CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) ligands that are expressed on antigen presenting cells (APCs). CD28 costimulation increases T cell responses in naïve cells by increasing cytokine (mainly IL-2) production, which results from an increase in both cytokine gene transcription and mRNA stabilization.

CD28 signaling involves the activation of the small Rho family GTPases Rac and CDC42, which activate p21-activated kinase. This may link them to the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and the subsequent induction of IL-2 synthesis. Rac and CDC42 are also important in CD28-mediated cytoskeletal rearrangements, through the action of the Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP).

CD28 costimulation increases the activity of nuclear transcription factors of the Rel/NFkB family, whose members bind the CD28-responsive element (CD28RE) present in several cytokine gene promoters.

CD28 triggering reduces the number of engaged TCRs necessary to induce cytokine production and cell proliferation. This threshold reduction for T-cell activation is attributed to CD28-induced recruitment of lipid rafts to the immunological synapse, which promotes recruitment of raft-associated kinase and adapter molecules.

activation B : activation T : anergy : CD28 receptor : CD28RE : CDC42 : costimulatory molecules : first/second signals : helper T cell : IL-2 : MHC class II : negative regulators : plasma cells : Rac : regulatory mechanisms : Rel-NFkB : Rho GTPases : TCR engagement : TCR threshold reduction : WASP

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leukocytes

Leukocytes are white blood cells (WBCs) – left b=basophil, e=eosinophil, m=monocyte, n=neutrophil.

Leukocytes are subdivided according to presense or lack of granulation:

granulocytes generated by granulopoiesis :
--- basophilsmast cells
--- eosinophils
--- neutrophils

agranulocytes
-lymphocytes generated by lymphopoiesis
---B lymphocytesplasma cells
---T lymphocyteshelper T cells, killer T cells
--- ○ natural killer cells → lymphoid dendritic cells

- ○ agranulocytes generated by monocytopoiesis
---monocytesmacrophages
----------------.myeloid dendritic cells

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maturation

Maturation involves signal-regulated adjustments in cells/immune cells/thymocytic cells that lead to cellular specialization.

stem → progenitor → precursor → adult → mature

pDCDC
monocytemacrophage
B thymocyte → B lymphocyteplasma cells or memory B cells
T thymocyte → T lymphocyteTcCTL, some CTLCIK
______________-________helper T cells
______________-________regulatory T cells
______________-________natural killer T cells

Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen presenting cells of the immune system. A variety of factors operate in antigen recognition and processing by immature (precursor) dendritic cells and in the maturation of immature cells. Toll-like receptors on the surfaces of precurson dendritic cells recognize microbial components and induce the differentiation of dendritic cell precursors. GM-CSF and IL-4 stimulate the maturation of monocytopoietic pDC1, while IL-3 stimulates the differentiation of pDC2. The stimulatory capacity (maturation) of DCs plus their the expression of CD40, CD54, CD58, CD80, CD83, CD86 and MHC class II molecules is enhanced by eicosanoid-fatty acid-prostaglandins: PGE2 > PGE1 > PGF2α > PGI2 (prostacyclin). PG effects on the maturation of DC and enhanced T cell proliferation are mimicked by db-cAMP and forskolin, indicating that maturation effects are due to elevated cAMP levels. Maturation of DCs is accompanied by secretion of higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-12, enhancing DC capacity to induce a Th1 immune response.

Affinity maturation is a process of affinity-selected differentiation of activated B cells. Repeated exposures to the same antigen provokes greater antibody ligating affinity in the antibody secreted by successive generations of plasma cells. Somatic mutations mediate the maturation of T-dependent humoral immune responses. Clones of B cell clones that express antibodies with progressively increased affinity are selected by antigen-signaling from somatic variants of germ-line-encoded genes. However, such antigen selection cannot explain the emergence of B cell clones secreting rather low-affinity antibodies and the shift to alternative germ-line V region gene combinations occurring during secondary and tertiary responses. Idiotypic suppression may favor this clonal shift. Idiotypic recognition in the syngeneic host that is highly restricted to private idiotopes of each clone sequentially activated during immune maturation could explain the phenomenon.[pm] Џ B cell maturation - animation Џ

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