Antigenic Specificity
Antigenic specificity of the antigen depends on antigenic
determinants or epitopes.
An epitope is defined as
the immunologically active region of an immunogen that binds to
antigen-specific membrane recep-tors on lymphocytes or secreted antibodies. The
interaction between cells of the immune system and antigens takes place at many
levels and the complexity of any antigen is mirrored by its epitope. There are
two types of epitopes: B-cell epitopes and T-cell epitopes.
B-cell epitopes are antigenic determinants recognized by B cells.
B-cell epitope can combine with its receptor only if the antigen molecule is in
its native state. The complementary surfaces of the antibody and the antigen
molecules appear to be relatively flat. Smaller molecules often fit nicely
within a particular depression or groove in the antigen-binding site of the
antibody molecule.
The B-cell epitope is about six or seven sugar residues or amino
acids long. B-cell epitopes tend to be hydrophilic and are often located at
bends in the protein structure. They are also often found in regions of
proteins, which have a higher mobility; this may make it possible for an
epitope to shift just a bit to fit into an almost-right site.
T cells recognize amino acids in proteins but do not recognize
polysaccharide or nucleic acid antigens. This is the reason why polysaccharides
are considered as T-independent antigens and proteins as T-dependent antigens.
The primary sequence of amino acids in proteins determines the antigenic
determi-nants recognized by T cells. Free peptides are not recognized by T
cells, while the complex of MHC molecules and peptide are recognized by T
cells. Thus for a T-cell response, it should recognize both the antigenic
determinant and also the MHC, and therefore it is said to be MHC restricted.
In general, T-cell epitopes or antigenic determinants are small and
are only 8–15 amino acids long. The antigenic deter-minants are limited to
those parts of the antigen that can bind to MHC molecules. Since the MHC
molecules are subjected to genetic variability, there can be difference among
individuals in their T-cell response to the same stimulus. Each MHC molecule
can bind several, but not all, peptides. Therefore, for a peptide to be
immunogenic in a particular individual, that individual must have MHC molecules
that can bind to it.
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