If you’re trying to understand the basics of
the immune system specifically the adaptive immune system , and you’re in the
dark about its main component which are lymphocytes specifically Gamma Delta T
cells , and you’re aiming to also build a foundation for understanding
immunology applications like Immunotherapy , then this blogpost will cover the
most recurring questions about them all .
What’s the connection about the adaptive
immune system & immunotherapy?
The adaptive immune system is naturally the
most advanced system for attacking pathogens because it goes about the
targeting of these pathogenic cells or infected cells and attack them through
different means.
The commonality here, is that immunotherapy
is totally about targeting undetectable pathogens by the immune system to also
affect them in many ways, this is why the natural functions are overridden
through this field.
And what are the main component of the
adaptive immune system?
Lymphocytes which are a part of white blood
cells and they contain two types B & T cells.
And what are Gamma Delta T cells?
They’re a small subset of T cells that are
different from the regular T cell types in that they have a single gamma &
delta chain as opposed to Helper & Killer T cells which have 2 alpha &
beta chains.
And where is that type of T cell is usually located?
It’s not great in number, but its highest
concentration is located at the gut’s mucosa, specifically with the population
of lymphocytes that are called intraepithelial lymphocytes.
And how are these T cells activated?
It’s still largely unknown till today what’s
the exact of antigenic protein that leads to their activation.
But they’re strange in that they don’t need a
MHC complex molecule & antigen processing to recognize cells yet at the
same time they’re capable of recognizing some MHC class I molecules, and they
also can identify lipid antigens.
What is it similar to then from the T cells?
It’s actually bordering between Helper &
Killer T cells from the adaptive immune system and at the same time Natural
killer cells from the innate immune system.
Can you explain this is the case in more details?
They’re considered to be part of the adaptive
immune system because the re-arrange TCR genes(promoting gene diversity) and
even develop memory phenotypes and at the same time it’s part of the innate
immune system because NK cell receptors or restricted TCR could be used as
pattern recognition receptors .
And thus this concludes our Q&A on the
adaptive immune system lymphocytes specifically gamma delta T cells and their
peculiar bordering functions for the aim of better understanding immunotherapy.
Want to know more?
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