The Immune system

Role: protect body against pathogens

Pathogens; bacteria, bacterial toxin, viruses, parasites, and fungi.

Outline
Anatomy of the Immune system Organization of the bodys defenses Humoral immunity Cell-mediated immunity Immune responses in Health and diseases

Outline
Anatomy of the Immune system Organization of the bodys defenses Humoral immunity Cell-mediated immunity Immune responses in Health and diseases

Anatomy

Leukocytes - Phagocytes (phagocytosis): neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (skin) - Lymphocytes: Bs and Ts, natural killer cells - Mast cells Lymphoid tissues - primary lymphoid tissues (bone marrow and thymus) - secondary lymphoid tissues

Outline
Anatomy of the Immune system Organization of the bodys defenses Humoral immunity Cell-mediated immunity Immune responses in Health and diseases

Organization of the bodys defenses

Non-specific defenses: no need to decipher pathogens identiy. Always present in the body. - Physical barriers - Inflammation - Interferons - Natural cell killers (NK cells) - Complement system

Specific defenses:Based onn recognition of the pathogens identity

Humoral immunity Cell-mediated immunity

Non-specific defenses
Physical barriers - skin - mucus - stream of tears or urine - Inflammation

Chemical barriers
pH (stomach, vagina) enzymes (stomach, tears) Interferons Complement system

Inflammation
Symptoms of inflammation: - Redness - heat - Swelling -- pain

Macrophage and phagocytosis

Interferon
Protein secreted by a cell currently infected by a virus

Interferon warns the neighboring cells of the impending viral infection

The neighboring cells synthesize proteins that will block the virus from hijacking the cell DNA replication machinery

Animation: http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/interferon2.gif

Complement system
About 30 blood proteins They become activated either by direct contact with a pathogen or by contact with a bound antibody. In an activated state, they form a complex which opens a hole in a pathogens cell membrane bacterial lysis

Complement system also promotes inflammation

Natural Killer cells = NK cells

Cytotoxic T cells, lacking markers Able to recognize a wide range of pathogens without prior exposure When recognition and binding occur, the NK cells destroy the pathogen through cell lysis

Specific immunity
Specificity: based on shape recognition of cell surface antigens Diversity: Any shape can be recognized by a B or Tlymphocytes and trigger an immune reaction Memory: once a pathogen has activated the immune system, memory cells remain and will protect against a secondary infection Self-tolerance: the immune system does not attack itself

Specific immunity = the players

Macrophages (antigen presenting cell = APC): phagocytize pathogens and present antigens to helper-T lymphocytes Helper-T lymphocytes: secrete lymphokines and activate B and killer T lymphocytes B-lymphocytes: multiply and specialize into plasma cells secrete antibodies Killer-T lymphocytes: kill (through lysis) infected or cancerous cells

Outline
Anatomy of the Immune system Organization of the bodys defenses Humoral immunity Cell-mediated immunity Immune responses in Health and diseases

Antibody-mediated (humoral) immunity = AMI

1- Macrophages phagocytize a pathogen and present an antigen to a matching helper-T cell 2- At the same time, some pathogens contact B-cells matching the pathogens antigens The helper-T cells multiply, secrete lymphokines which stimulate the B-cells to multiply and specialize into plasma cells The plasma cells secretes antibodies

Figure 23.7

What are antibodies?

Structures formed by 4 proteins Two main regions:
- the upper region is highly variable and bind to a specific shape (the antigen) - The base region is constant for all antibodies this region, when the antibody is bound to its antigen, activates the complement system

Role of the antibodies

Types of antibodies

Antibody = immunoglobulin = Ig IgG Most abundant.

mostly in blood, lymph. able to cross the placenta

IgA Found in tears, milk, blood, lymph IgM First antibody to be secreted. found in blood, lymph. unable to
cross placenta

IgD Found in blood, lymph, on B cells

IgE Found on mast cells, basophils. involved in allergic reaction.

First and second exposures to a pathogen

Clonal selection
Once a T, B or killer lymphocytes have made contact with their specific antigen, they are triggered into action but they also divide and form a large amount of identical cells, called a clone.

Clonal deletion
How can the DNA in the nucleus codes for each type of antibody? Since over a millions of different types are needed, how can the DNA in the nucleus code for each of them? There is clearly not enough DNA to accomplish that.

During embryogenesis, several genes coding for the variable portion of the antibody (and each responsible for part of a shape) reshuffle so each combination of genes codes for a specific antibody (and shape). So a stem cell receives the capability to form one single type of antibody. Once formed, they circulate in the body. If they meet and bind to a shape (formed by a protein) present in the body, they are destroyed or deleted, so that only the stem cells responsible for antibodies aimed at foreign pathogens are left. A stem cell able to react with our own proteins and not deleted during fetal life might later trigger an autoimmune disease.

Outline
Anatomy of the Immune system Organization of the bodys defenses Humoral immunity Cell-mediated immunity Immune responses in Health and diseases

Cell-mediated immunity
Similar reaction to AMI The pathogen triggering the reaction is a virus infected cell or a cancerous cell. Killer T lymphocytes are sensitized by contact and activated by lymphokines secreted by activated helper T lymphocytes

CMI

Figure 23.11 (1 of 2)

Clinical applications Immunization

- Active and natural

- Active and artificial - Passive and natural - Passive and artificial

Why are we vaccinating against some disease but not other? Why not Ebola?

Clinical applications
Immediate allergic reaction: due to IgE

Delayed allergic reaction: due to cytotoxic T cells

Tissue transplant and tissue rejection: due to cytotoxic T cells

 Beginning of transplant rejection