IMMUNOLOGY

BENJIE M. CLEMENTE, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

IMMUNE SYSTEM
FUNCTIONS OF IMMUNE SYSTEM
1. Defend against and eliminate foreign materials
2. Minimize damage that may be caused as a result of the presence of
such materials

2 FORMS OF IMMUNE RESPONSE

3. Innate immune response
4. Adaptive immune response
a. Humoral immunity
b. Cell-mediated Immunity
DEFINITIONS AND OUTLINE
STRUCTURE OF IMMUNE SYSTEM
PATHOGEN an organism which has the ability to cause disease
VIRULENCE used to indicate degree of pathogenicity of a given
strain of microorganism
ATTENUATION reduction in the virulence of a pathogen
ANTIGEN component of the foreign material that gives rise to
the primary interaction with the bodys immune system
IMMUNOGEN an antigen capable of eliciting an immune
response
DEFINITIONS AND OUTLINE
STRUCTURE OF IMMUNE SYSTEM
ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS/EPITOPES represent the antigen
recognition sites for our adaptive immune system
ANTIBODIES/IMMUNOGLOBULINS proteins produced and secreted
into biological fluids by our adaptive immune system in response
to antigenic stimulation
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY antibody nominally recognizing only a
single antigen and within only a single common epitope is
recognized
POLYCLONAL ANTIBODY antibody nominally recognizing only a single
antigen but within a number of different epitopes are recognized
CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTIC CELLS short lived (< 8 hrs)
monocytes in the blood circulation that migrate into tissues
and undergo further differentiation to give rise to the long-
lived and key effector cells macrophage
GRANULOCYTE population which includes: neutrophil, basophil
and eosinophil
MAST CELL tissue-resident cell that is triggered by tissue
damage or infection to release numerous initiating factors
NATURAL KILLER (NK) CELLS has a phenotype similar to
lymphocytes but lack their specific recognition receptors
CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
B-LYMPHOCYTES successor of lymphocyte that mature in the
bone marrow
T-LYMPHOCYTES successor of lymphocytes that mature in the
thymus
PLASMA CELLS differentiated B-lymphocytes in response to
antigenic stimulation capable of antibody production and
secretion
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
INNATE BARRIERS AT EPIDERMAL AND MUCOSAL SURFACES
- Involves a range non-specific mechanisms
- includes
a. normal flora
b. fluid and mucus secretion
c. low pH
d. presence of lysozymes
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
INNATE DEFENSE ONCE EPIDERMAL OR MUCOSAL BARRIERS
HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED
1. MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTIC CELLS
- includes monocytes and macrophages

Secretions: Receptors:
a. Bactericidal molecules a. Chemotactic receptor
b. Cytokines b. Complement
c. Bioactive lipids c. For adhesion
d. For cytokines
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
INNATE DEFENSE ONCE EPIDERMAL OR MUCOSAL BARRIERS
HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED
2. GRANULOCYTE CELL POPULATIONS
a. Neutrophils
- short-lived (2-3 days)
- most abundant (90% of granulocytes)
- most important in phagocytosis
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
INNATE DEFENSE ONCE EPIDERMAL OR MUCOSAL BARRIERS
HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED
2. GRANULOCYTE CELL POPULATIONS
b. Eosinophils
- poor phagocytic cells
- involved mainly in killing of helminthes
c. Basophils
- non-phagocytic cells
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
PHAGOCYTOSIS
- exhibited by neutrophils and macrophages
Steps:
1. Chemotaxis
2. Adherence
3. Engulfment
4. Phagosome formation
5. Phagolysosome formation
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY
Functions:
1. Opsonization of microbial membranes
2. Activation of leukocytes
3. Lysis of the target cell membrane
HUMORAL ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
ANTIBODY STRUCTURE
2 chains:
1. Heavy chain
2. Light chain

2 regions of heavy and light

chains:
3. Variable region
4. Constant region
HUMORAL ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
2 MAJOR FRAGMENTS OF ANTIBODY
1. CRYSTALLIZABLE FRAGMENT (Fc)
- Encompasses that portion of the
Immunoglobulin molecules from the carboxyl
region to the Hinge Region
- Responsible for complement fixation

2. ANTIGEN BINDING FRAGMENT (Fab)

- Encompasses the portions of
Immunoglobulins from the Hinge Region to the
Amino Terminal Region
-Responsible for binding antigens
HUMORAL ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
CLONAL SELECTION AND EXPANSION
HUMORAL ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
HUMORAL IMMUNE EFFECTOR FUNCTIONS
1. Cognitive Function on B-Lymphocytes
- mediated by IgM and IgD present on the surface of B cells
2. Neutralization of Antigen by Secreted Antibody
- secreted antibody (IgM, IgG and IgA) binds antigen and
hinder interaction with host cell surface
3. Opsonization of Antigen
- antibody (IgG) opsonizes antigen promoting phagocytosis
HUMORAL ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
HUMORAL IMMUNE EFFECTOR
FUNCTIONS
4. Mucosal Immunity
- mediated by IgA
5. Antibody-Dependent Cell
Cytotoxicity (ADCC)
- mediated by IgG (may also be
IgA and IgE)
HUMORAL ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
HUMORAL IMMUNE EFFECTOR FUNCTIONS
6. Immediate Hypersensitivity
- mediated by IgE attached to the FcER
of mast cells
7. Neonatal Immunity
- mediated by maternal IgG transported
across placenta and IgA through breast
milk
HUMORAL ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
ACTIVATION OF THE CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY
CELL-MEDIATED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
2 CLASSES OF LYMPHOCYTES
1. T-cytotoxic lymphocytes (Tc lymphocytes)
- CD8+ T cells
- for killing of virally-infected cells and tumor cells
- recognizes antigens processed by MHC class I
2. T-helper lymphocytes (Th lymphocytes)
- CD4+ T cells
- serves as coordinator of adaptive immune system
- recognizes antigens processed by MHC class II
CELL-MEDIATED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
T-LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS
1. Effector T-helper cell subtypes
a. Th1 cells

- driven by IFN- and IL-12

- regulate cell-mediated immunity
- secretes IFN- and TNF-
b. Th2 cells

- driven by IL-4
- produces IL-4, 5, 6, 10, and 13
- regulate humoral immunity
CELL-MEDIATED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
T-LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS
2. T-Regulatory Cells
- serves as immune suppressor leading to peripheral tolerance to self or
foreign antigens
- with CD4 and Foxp3 transcription factor
- approximately 10% of CD4+ T-cell population
3. T-cells
- T-cells possessing TCR made up of single -chain and a single -chain
- main mechanism is still unknown but capable of phagocytosis and
cytokine production
CELL-MEDIATED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
T-LYMPHOCYTE ANTIGEN RECOGNITION
AND MHC PROTEINS

2 Classes of MHC
1. MHC class I
- expressed on the surface of all
nucleated host cell membranes
- present peptide to cytotoxic T cells
CELL-MEDIATED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
T-LYMPHOCYTE ANTIGEN RECOGNITION AND
MHC PROTEINS

2 Classes of MHC
2. MHC class II
- expressed only on a more specialized
group of cells termed as antigen-presenting
cells (APCs)
- present peptide antigen to helper T-cells
CELL-MEDIATED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
PROCESSING OF
PROTEINS TO ALLOW
PEPTIDE
PRESENTATION BY
MCH CLASS I
MOLECULES
CELL-MEDIATED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
PROCESSING OF
PROTEINS TO ALLOW
PEPTIDE
PRESENTATION BY
MCH CLASS II
MOLECULES
CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE OF
IMMUNOLOGY
TRANSPLANTATION REJECTION
1. Hyperacute rejection
- occurs within minutes to hours following revascularization
of graft
- occurs due to presence of preformed antibody that reacts
with blood cells, MHC I molecules or other poorly defined
antigens
CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE OF
IMMUNOLOGY
TRANSPLANTATION REJECTION
2. Acute Rejection
- occurs within weeks to months following transplantation
- involves humoral and cell-mediated induced cytotoxicity
3. Chronic Rejection
- occurs many months or years following transplantation
- characterized by fibrosis
- primarily due to diversity of MHC classes in individuals
 CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE OF
IMMUNOLOGY
HYPERSENSITIVITY
TYPE I TYPE II TYPE III TYPE IV
Common Immediate/ Antibody- Complex- Cell-mediated
name acute mediated mediated

Mediator IgE IgG or IgM IgG or IgM T-helper cells

Complement No Yes Yes Yes

involvment

Examples Allergic ABO Acute Sarcoidosis;

reaction; incompatibility glomerulonephriti contact
anaphylactic s; SLE dermatitis
shock; hay
fever