Antigen Antibodies
Antigen Antibodies
Antigen Antibodies
Definition of antigen
Antigen is substance which when introduced parentally into the body stimulates the production of an antibody with which it reacts specifically and in an observable manner Antigen: Immmunogen Tolerogen Allergen Vaccine
Microbes; bacteria ,virus; fungi and parasites xenoantigenei or allogeneic tissues or organs: grafted skin , bone marrow
Immunologic tolerance is unresponsiveness to an antigen that is induced by prior exposure to that antigen.
tolerogen
3. Allergen: antigen that induce Anaphylaxis (severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction occurring as a result of rapid generalized mastcell granulation)
4. Vaccine: antigens that induce a protection immune response against microbes and are used to prevent diseases Killed vaccine: Rubella virus Attenuated vaccine: Measles Toxoid :Tetanus
Based on Immunogenicity
Complete antigen : substances with both immunogenecity and immunoreactivity
By convention , we call complete antigen as antigen. Incomplete antigen (hapten): substances only with immunoreactivity
Hapten +carrier
Hapten: Only possess immunoreactivity Carrier: Make hapten obtain the immunogenicity
Polysaccharides
Pure polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides are good immunogens.
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are usually poorly immunogenic. However, they may become immunogenic when single stranded or when complexed with proteins.
Lipids
In general lipids are non-immunogenic, although they may be haptens.
(1) Xenoantigen
An antigen that is found in more than one species. An antigen is something that is capable of inducing an immune response. The prefix "xeno-" means foreign or other. It comes from the Greek "xenos" meaning stranger, guest, or host. Pathogens: bacteria, virus , fungi, parasite Exotoxin and toxoid Exotoxin
Produced by G+ bacteria
Strong antigenicity and pathogenicity Toxoid : exotoxin that loses its toxicity but maintains its antigenicity under suitable conditions (low concentration of formaldehyde ) Such as tetanus toxoid , diphtheria toxoid
bacteria
Pathogens
Fungi
HIV
No specificity of species
Significance . immunopathology
. Diagnosis
(2) Alloantigen
Antigens of red blood cell ABO system (blood typing) - very important in transfusion Rh system (Han race :>99%Rh+)----haemolytic disease of
ABO system
Blood typing A B AB O antigen of RBC A B A,B antibody in serum anti-B anti-A anti-A, anti-B
(3) Autoantigen
Release of sequestered Ag
II. According to whether need the help of T cells when B cells produce Ab
more ,same, repeat determinant only induce B cell to produce IgM can not induce CMI no immune memory
SUPERANTIGENS
When the immune system encounters a conventional T-dependent antigen, only a small fraction (1 in 104 -105) of the T cell population is able to recognize the antigen and become activated (monoclonal/oligoclonal response). However, there are some antigens which polyclonally activate a large fraction of the T cells (up to 25%). These antigens are called superantigens
Eg: Staphylococcal enterotoxins (food poisoning), Staphylococcal toxic shock toxin (toxic shock syndrome), Staphylococcal exfoliating toxins (scalded skin syndrome) and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (shock). The diseases associated with exposure to superantigens are, in part, due to hyper activation of the immune system and subsequent release of biologically active cytokines by activated T cells.
AFP (alpha-fetoprotein): over-expression in liver cancer CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen): over-expression in carcinoma of colon , pancreas, stomach ,and breast
DEPEND ON SIZE
Very high molecule haemocyanin (MW 6.75million) highly antigenic Low molecular weight molecule (<10,000) non antigenic or feeble They render antigenicity by absorbing inert particles like bentonite or kaolin
What kinds of substances can be foreignness to immune system? (1) Heterogeneous substances Various pathogens, xenoantigeneic tissues
III. Specificity and cross reaction of antigen Specificity is a cardinal feature of the adaptive immune
system
Specificity of Ag
Ab1
Ab2
Ab3
Specificity exists in both immunogenecity and immunoreactivity Specificity is the basis of immunologic diagnosis and immunologic therapy as well as basic feature of adaptive immunity
Species specificity:
Tissues of all individual in a species contain species specific antigen Cross reactivity is seen between antigen from related species.
Isopsecificity :
Isoantigen are antigen found in some but not in all members of species. On the basis of isoantigens a species may be divided into different groups Eg. Blood group antigen
Autospecificity :
A number of tissue antigen may act as a auto or self antigen. Eg cellular nucleic acid, corneal component, thyroglobulin.
Organ specificity:
Some organ of different species share the same antigens are k/a organ specific antigen eg. Brain, spinal cord of one species share specificity with another species
Degradability
Antigens that are easily phagocytosed are generally more immunogenic. This is because for most antigens (T-dependant antigens) the development of an immune response requires that the antigen be phagocytosed, processed and presented to helper T cells by an antigen presenting cell (APC).
2. Antigenic valence
Total number of determinants which can be bound by
Conformational determinants
Conformational determinants are formed by amino acid residues that arent in a sequence but become spatially juxtaposed in the folded protein.
(2)According to types of cells recognizing antigenic determinants T cell determinants (T cell epitopes)
B cell determinants (B cell epitopes)
BCR proteins, polysaccharides 5-15 amino acid residues or 5-7 monosaccharides Types linear epitope conformational epitope or linear epitope Position any position in antigen mostly exist on the surface of antigen
Antibodies
Proteins that recognize and bind to a particular antigen with very high specificity. Made in response to exposure to the antigen. One virus or microbe may have several antigenic determinant sites, to which different antibodies may bind. Each antibody has at least two identical sites that bind antigen: Antigen binding sites. Valence of an antibody: Number of antigen binding sites. Most are bivalent. Belong to a group of serum proteins called immunoglobulins (Igs).
Antibody Structure
Monomer: A flexible Y-shaped molecule with four protein chains:
2 identical light chains 2 identical heavy chains
Variable Regions: Two sections at the end of Ys arms. Contain the antigen binding sites (Fab). Identical on the same antibody, but vary from one antibody to another. Constant Regions: Stem of monomer and lower parts of Y arms. Fc region: Stem of monomer only. Important because they can bind to complement or cells.
Antibody Structure
Immunoglobulin Classes
I. IgG
Structure: Monomer Percentage serum antibodies: 80% Location: Blood, lymph, intestine Half-life in serum: 23 days Complement Fixation: Yes Placental Transfer: Yes Known Functions: Enhances phagocytosis, neutralizes toxins and viruses, protects fetus and newborn.
Immunoglobulin Classes
II. IgM
Structure: Pentamer Percentage serum antibodies: 5-10% Location: Blood, lymph, B cell surface (monomer) Half-life in serum: 5 days Complement Fixation: Yes Placental Transfer: No Known Functions: First antibodies produced during an infection. Effective against microbes and agglutinating antigens.
Immunoglobulin Classes
III. IgA
Structure: Dimer Percentage serum antibodies: 10-15% Location: Secretions (tears, saliva, intestine, milk), blood and lymph. Half-life in serum: 6 days Complement Fixation: No Placental Transfer: No Known Functions: Localized protection of mucosal surfaces. Provides immunity to infant digestive tract.
Immunoglobulin Classes
IV. IgD
Structure: Monomer Percentage serum antibodies: 0.2% Location: B-cell surface, blood, and lymph Half-life in serum: 3 days Complement Fixation: No Placental Transfer: No Known Functions: In serum function is unknown. On B cell surface, initiate immune response.
Immunoglobulin Classes
V. IgE
Structure: Monomer Percentage serum antibodies: 0.002% Location: Bound to mast cells and basophils throughout body. Blood. Half-life in serum: 2 days Complement Fixation: No Placental Transfer: No Known Functions: Allergic reactions. Possibly lysis of worms.
Each B cell produces antibodies that will recognize only one antigenic determinant.
2. Opsonization: Antigen (microbe) is covered with antibodies that enhances its ingestion and lysis by phagocytic cells.
Immunological Memory
Antibody Titer: The amount of antibody in the serum. Pattern of Antibody Levels During Infection Primary Response: After initial exposure to antigen, no antibodies are found in serum for several days. A gradual increase in titer, first of IgM and then of IgG is observed. Most B cells become plasma cells, but some B cells become long living memory cells. Gradual decline of antibodies follows.