How T Cells Work

<p>May 12, 2015 08:27 PM</p>

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so good!</p>

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TCR = t-cell receptor &nbsp;alerts the immune system.</p>

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virus is inside cell &nbsp;(and that protects the virus from detection by host)</p>

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however, &nbsp;body can find even that...using HLA &nbsp;human leukocyte antigen

displays the foreign invading antigen on the outside of the cell

HLA &nbsp;displays &nbsp;proteins on the outside of the cell. &nbsp;like a barcode...</p>

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t-cells &nbsp;can detect those barcodes (that are not part of normal proteins)

t-cells circulate... &nbsp;and they have &nbsp;TCRs on their surface that scan

for the HLA displayed barcodes. looking for a match.</p>

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immense # of t-cells &nbsp;(eahc with only one type of receptor)...</p>

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when TCR matches with HLA displayed protein &nbsp;it causes an immune response...</p>

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3 crucial steps...</p>

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1) &nbsp;t-cell expansion (of the matching clone) &nbsp;so that they can lock onto more of those

HLA &nbsp;containing matching cells.</p>

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2) &nbsp;next, a subset becomes cytotoxic &nbsp;killer t-cells...

these find &nbsp;&nbsp;virus infected cells and puncture them/ killing them.</p>

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3) and some become memory t-cells... immune memory...</p>

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