T cells and B cells have many similarities in how they produce their highly diverse repertoire of antigen receptors, but one important difference between them is that B cell receptors can undergo somatic hypermutation to alter their affinity for antigen. This is known as ‘affinity maturation’, and the result is that the pool of B cells specific for a particular microbe will increase their binding affinity. T cells do not engage in either somatic hypermutation or affinity maturation. What potential harm could come from allowing T cells to alter the affinity of their TCRs after they have already left the thymus and have become activated in a lymph node or spleen?
T cells and B cells have many similarities in how they produce their highly diverse repertoire of antigen receptors, but one important difference between them is that B cell receptors can undergo somatic hypermutation to alter their affinity for antigen. This is known as ‘affinity maturation’, and the result is that the pool of B cells specific for a particular microbe will increase their binding affinity. T cells do not engage in either somatic hypermutation or affinity maturation. What potential harm could come from allowing T cells to alter the affinity of their TCRs after they have already left the thymus and have become activated in a lymph node or spleen?
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...
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T cells and B cells have many similarities in how they produce their highly diverse repertoire of antigen receptors, but one important difference between them is that B cell receptors can undergo somatic hypermutation to alter their affinity for antigen. This is known as ‘affinity maturation’, and the result is that the pool of B cells specific for a particular microbe will increase their binding affinity. T cells do not engage in either somatic hypermutation or affinity maturation. What potential harm could come from allowing T cells to alter the affinity of their TCRs after they have already left the thymus and have become activated in a lymph node or spleen?
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