Are t-cell receptors antibodies?

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SUMMARY

T-cell receptors (TCRs) and antibodies are both crucial components of the immune system, but they serve different functions. TCRs are membrane-bound proteins on T-cells that bind to specific antigens, while antibodies are secreted by B-cells and can exist in multiple forms with various binding sites. The distinction between TCRs and antibodies is often blurred, as both recognize antigens through specific epitopes. Understanding these differences is essential for grasping immune response mechanisms.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic knowledge of immunology concepts, including T-cells and B-cells.
  • Understanding of antigen-antibody interactions.
  • Familiarity with the structure and function of proteins.
  • Awareness of ligand-receptor dynamics in cellular signaling.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the structure and function of T-cell receptors (TCRs).
  • Study the various forms and functions of antibodies in the immune response.
  • Explore the concept of epitopes and their role in antigen recognition.
  • Learn about ligand-receptor interactions, specifically RANK ligand and RANK receptor.
USEFUL FOR

Immunologists, biology students, and healthcare professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of immune system components and their interactions.

BogMonkey
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I read that t-cells have receptors on their surface which bind to antigens. Are these receptors antibodies or are antibodies molecules which float around freely and mark antigens that they happen to bind to so that t-cells can kill them?
 
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Well you are right in your comparison. They are extremely similar in nearly every way. Antibodies are secreted from B-cells and TCRs are bound to the the cell membrane and they only have a single binding site. (Antibodies have multiple forms with various binding sites 1,2-5)

http://courses.washington.edu/conj/immune/antibody.htm

^^I think that this website lays out some good knowledge on TCRs and Antibodies.
 
By default, an antibody is anything that binds an antigen by recognizing it through the specific epitopes that are present. You shouldn't be too stringent about only labelling the secretions of plasma cells as antibodies as these delineations are quite blurred in actual practice. Other word you can see in usage is LIGAND. For example, RANK ligand for RANK receptor.
 

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