The Immunological

Response
 Cells Involved in the Adaptive
. (Specific) Immune Response
1- Macrophages:
- They act as Ag presenting cells.
- They secrete cytokines e.g. IL-1.
2- Lymphocytes:
They originate from a stem cell in the bone marrow
and include:
T-lymphocytes.

B-lymphocytes.
 :T-lymphocytes
- They mature in the thymus.
- They are responsible for cell-mediated immunity.
- They include different subsets each with a
distinct function e.g. :
- Helper T cells (CD4+ cells),which differentiate
into 2 major subtypes: TH1 and TH2 cells.
- Cytotoxic T cells (CD8+ cells).
- Memory T cells (CD4+ or CD8+ cells).
- Regulatory T cells (suppressor T cells).
:B-lymphocytes

- They mature in the bone marrow .

- They are responsible for humoral (Ab-

mediated) immunity.
 The Major Events of the Adaptive
(Specific) Immune Response
 1- Ag processing and presentation by the APC.
 2- Activation of the T-helper cell.
 3- Activation of T-cytotoxic cells.
 4- Activation of B-cells.
 5- Formation of memory cells.
 6- Elimination of the offending antigen.
 7- Down-regulation of the immune response by
regulatory (suppressor) T-cells.
Antigen processing and presentation-1
2- Activation of T-helper cell
Antigen processing and presentation

T helper cell

Activation of T-helper cell

 Activation of cytotoxic T -3
cells
Activated T
helper cell

Cytotoxic T
cell (Tc)

Memory Tc Effector Tc
A Cytotoxic T Cell Attacking and Killing
a Virus-Infected Target Cell

CELLS alive!

Here, the smaller cytotoxic T cell or Tc (arrow) is attacking and killing

a much larger virus-infected cell. The T cell will survive while the
infected cell is destroyed.
4- B-cell activation and
differentiation

Activated T
helper cell

Antibodies
 Activated T helper
cell
APC T helper cell

Cytotoxic
T cell (Tc)

Antibodies
Cell-mediated immunity

Humoral immunity Memory Tc Effector Tc Lysis

The Adaptive Immune Response
 Antigens
- A foreign substance which when introduced
in the body it induces a specific immune
response (Abs or cell-mediated immunity).

- Recognized by the immune system as non-

self.

- Usually protein in nature or a

polysaccharide of a high molecular weight.
 Types of Antigens
A) Incomplete Ag ( hapten).
B) Complete Ags:
1- Iso-Ags.
2- Auto-Ags.
3- Heterophile Ags.
4- Bacterial Ags (capsullar, flagellar, somatic,..etc.)
5- Viral Ags
6- Super Ags.
A) Incomplete Ag ( hapten):
- A protein-free chemical substance incapable of
producing Ab as such.

- Becomes antigenic if it binds to a protein  Ab

production.

- When re-introduced into the body it can react

with previously formed Ab  reaction.

- E.g. penicillin, aspirin, sulpha, cosmetics,

tranquillizers and formaldehyde.
B) Complete Ags:
1- Iso-antigens:
- Ags present on the cells of the body of different
members of the same species.
- E.g - The blood group Ags (ABO, “Rh” factor).
- Human leucocytic antigen (HLA).
2- Auto-antigens:
Body tissues are recognized as non-self due to
infection or inflammation.
3- Heterophile antigens:
- Ags shared by different species.
- e.g. Ebstein-Bar virus shares Ags with sheep and
horse RBCs.
4- Bacterial antigens:
e.g. capsular, flagellar (H), somatic (O), Vi, fimbrial
Ags, exotoxins, endotoxins.
5- Viral antigens:
- Viral capsid Ags and surface glycoprotein Ags.

6- Superantigens:
- Ags which can activate T-cells non-specifically by
binding directly to the Vβ chains of their Ag
receptors cross-linking them to MHC class II of
APCs.
- e.g. bacterial toxins, viral proteins, Mycoplasma
Ags.
- Result in systemic toxicity due to massive release of
cytokines as IL-1, IL-2 and TNF from activated T-
cells.