The Immune System and Immunity: By: Princess Nhoor A. Agcong

The Immune System
and Immunity
By: Princess Nhoor A. Agcong
The Immune System
• What is immune system?
• A complex network of cells, tissues,
organs, and the substances they make
that helps the body fight infections
and other diseases. These includes
white blood cells and organs and
tissues of the lymph system, such as
the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph
nodes, lymph vessels, and bone
marrow.
The Immune System
• What will happen when our immune
system fails to function properly?
– persistent or fatal infections
– allergy
– autoimmune disease
– transplant rejection
Functions of the Immune System
• Identifies and eliminates harmdul “non-
self” microorganisms and harmful
substances by distinguishing ‘self’ and
‘non-self’ proteins or by identifying danger
signals
• To strike a balance between clearing the
pathogen and causing accidental damage
• Immunopathology –
The Immune System
• Basic Principles • Generation Times and Evolution
• The innate immune system works • Bacteria – minutes
within minutes and has broad • Viruses – hours
specificity
• Host – years
• The adaptive immune system takes
days and has exisite specificity Pathogen replicates and evolves
millions of times faster than the host.
Polymorphic genes are those who
control the immune system
Innate Immunity
• Anatomical barriers • Physiological barriers
• Skin as a mechanical barrier • Low PH
• Mucus membrane in respiratory • Secretion of lysozyme
and GI tract traps microbes • Interferons
• Cilial propulsion on epithalia clean • Antimicrobial peptides
lungs of invading microorganisms
• Complement; responsible or lysing
microorganisms
Innate Immunity
Anatomical barriers Physiological barriers
Cells of the Innate Immune System
• Granular leukocytes • Immunoglobulins (antibodies)
• Natural Killer (NK) cells • IgG
– identify and kill virus-infected and – 75% of our serum
tumour cells – Crosses placenta, therefore important
in protecting newborns
• Macrophages
• Mononuclear phagocytes – Long serum hal-life
– “garbage disposal” – Part of secondary immune response
– present foreign cells to immune system – Bivalent- two identical antigen

binding sites
NK cell Macrophages
Immunoglobulins (Antibodies)
• IgM • IgA
– 10% of total serum Ig – 2 basic monomer; dimer with
– Complex of 5 linked bivalent antibodies, secrotory piece
therefore 10 identical binding sites- – Found in body secretions
multivalent
e.g. mucus membrane in GI tract
– Star-like shape
– Important in primary immune system
– Contains a secretory component
which protects it from digestive system
– Slightly lower affinity to antigens
compared to IgG
• IgE • IgD
– Involved in allergic response and the – Complete function not known
response to the helminths
– Bindss to basophils and mast cells
– Triggers release of histamines
Important Terms in Immune System
(Lymphatic System)
• Lymphocytes • Naïve lymphocytes
– Monocular cells which are part of the – Have never encountered an antigen to
leukocyte (white blood) cell lineage. which their cell surface receptor is
– Subdivided into: specific receptor to remain in the pool
of lymphocytes in the body.
• B (Bone marrow-derived)
• T (Thymus-derived)
(Lymphatic System)
• Memory lymphocytes • Innate immunity
– Products of an immune response – An early phase of the response of the
– It enables the specificity of their body to responsible pathogens
specific receptor to remain in the pool – Characterized by a variety of non-
of lymphocytes in the body. specific mechanisms and also
molecules and receptors on cells which
are Patterm Recognition Molecules.
– It does not generate memory
(Lymphatic System)
• Adaptive immunity • Active immunity
– Also known as Specific Immunity or – The induction of an immune response
Acquired Immunity by the introduction of antigen.
– The response of antigen-specific • Passive immunity
lymphocytes to antigen
– It is an immunity gained without
– Includes the development of the antigen induction
immunological memory
– i.e. by transfer of antibody or immune
serum into a naïve recipient
Innate Immunity
(Lymphatic System)
• Primary response • T cells
– The response made by naïve – Cells that originate in the thymus
lymphocytes when they first encounter – They recognize antigen presented at
their specific antigen. the cell surface by MHC/HLA
• Secondary response molecules
– The response made by memory – Surface markers on T cells are CD3,
lymphocytes when they re-encounter CD4, & CD8
the specific antigen.
(Lymphatic System)
(Lymphatic System)
• B cells
– Cells that originate in the bone
marrow
– In avian immunity, these cells were
discovered in the Bursa of Fabricius
– Surface markers associated with B
cells are CD19, surface
immunoglobulin class II MHC
Primary Lymphoid Organs
• Bone marrow • Thymus
– Site of haematopoesis – Where maturity of T-cells occurs
– In an embryo, this happens in – Bi- lobed

amniotic sac – Medulla and cortex regions
– In fetus, occurs in all bones, liver, and – No change during immune response to
spleen. Marrow is very cellular antigens, continuous development of T cells
– In adults, this occurs mostly in flat – Hassall’s corpuscle secretes soluble
bones, vertebrate, lliac bones, ribs and factors, and it is important in regulatory T
the end of long limbs cells
Primary Lymphoid Organs
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
• Lymph (liquid tissue) • Spleen
– Filter for the antigens in the blood
– Fluid drained from between tissue cells
– Large organ in the abdomen
absorbed into lymph
– Separated into white pulp: lymphoid cells around
– 2 to 3 litres of lymph are returned to the blood vessels, full of lymphocytes red pulp: contains
blood each day (via superior vena cava) old damaged RBC
– In the process of draining, lymph can – T cell area: peri-arteriolar lymphatic sheath
(PALS)
‘capture’ pathogens
– B cell area: located further away from blood
– Fluid passes through lymph nodes vessels
which survey for pathogens – Not a vital organ
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
THE END

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The Immune System and Immunity: By: Princess Nhoor A. Agcong

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The Immune System

– “garbage disposal” – Part of secondary immune response

– present foreign cells to immune system – Bivalent- two identical antigen

– In an embryo, this happens in – Bi- lobed

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