Antigen recognition, Antigen and antibody structure

Ziad Elnasser, MD, Ph.D

Introduction

Innate and adaptive immune systems. Complement and its function. Mannan Binding Lectins. Complement and self. Adaptive response correlates with large number of genes.

Antigen recognition molecules

B cell receptor.

T cell receptor.
HLA antigens.

B and T cell receptors

Clonal selection. One type of specific receptor. Diversity is generated by gene rearrangement and joining. Somatic hypermutation. Immunoglobulin fold.

Major histocompatibility complex

Encoded by MHC genes. Plays a role in graft rejection or compatibility. Class I present in all cells. Class II present on B cells, Macrophages and dendritic cells for Ag presentation. Immunoglobulin supergene family. TCR recognizes Ag only if presented with Class II MHC molecule. B cell binds directly to Ag, differs from TCR binding.

MHC Function
Capture and displays Ag from Cell associated microbes ie viruses. The genes of the MHC are the most variable. 6 different allelic forms from each class is present on the surface of every Lymphoid cell. All allelic forms are the same in every individual.

Antigens
Antigens and Immunogens. Foreign, large MW, and complex. Proteins, Carbohydrates, Glycoproteins. Nucleic acids and lipids ? Haptens. Epitopes: Linear, Discontinuous. Adjuvants.

Antibodies

Reacts with Ags that stimulated their production. Gamma portion of the electrophoresis, 20% of plasma proteins.

Polyclonal vs monoclonal antibodies.

Antibodies structure
Tow light chains, Two heavy chains, disulfide bonds. 5 different classes of heavy chains. Two different types of light chains. IgG four subclasses, IgA two. Papain and pepsin cleavage. Fab, FC, F(ab)2, VL, VH, CL, CH, Domains, Ig supergene family.

Biological Functions
Antigen binding. B cell receptor. Opsonization. Complement activation. IgM, IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE. Cell receptor interaction.