[Biology Class Notes] on Difference Between B cells and T cells Pdf

B cells and T cells are the white blood cells of the system that are liable for adaptive immune reaction in an organism. Both the cells are made in the bone marrow. B cells mature in the bone marrow while the T cells travel to the thymus and mature there. These cells are structurally similar and are involved in adaptive immune reaction in an organism.

What are B cells?

These cells mature in the bone marrow and produce antibodies in response to the antigens. B cells are involved in humoral response. As soon as B cells encounter the antigens, they produce plasma cells and memory B cells.

What are T cells?

T cells originate within the bone marrow and mature within the thymus. These are often further divided into T helper cells and T cytotoxic cells. They are responsible for removing the pathogens from the body. As soon as the foreign antigen enters the cells, T cells trigger the B cells to develop plasma cells and activate T killer cells that kill the cells affected by the invaders.

Similarities Between B cells and T cells

1. Both B and T cells originate within the bone marrow.

2. These cells are involved in adaptive immunity.

3. They are a type of lymphocytes.

4. The cells are nucleated and motile.

5. Both protect the body’s immune system and help fight infections.

6. Both the cells are non-phagocytic and are a part of the lymphatic system.

Properties of B cells and T cells 

Both B cells and T cells share these properties as mentioned – 

• They are integral membrane proteins.

• They are present in many similar copies that are exposed at the cell surface.

• They are prepared much before the cell even encounters an antigen.

• They are encoded by genes that are assembled by a combination of segments of DNA.

• They have a unique binding site.

• This site binds to a some of the antigen called an antigenic determinant or epitope.

• The binding, like that between an enzyme and its substrate depends on complementarity of the surface of the receptor and therefore the surface of the epitope.

• The binding takes place by non-covalent forces (again, like an enzyme binding to its substrate).

• Successful binding of the antigen receptor to the epitope, if amid additional signals, results in:

• Stimulation of the cell to go away G0 and enter the cell cycle.

• Repeated mitosis results in the event of the same cells bearing an equivalent antigen receptor; that’s , an identical  cell of the identical specificity.