Adaptive Immunity Flashcards
What are the phases of adaptive immune response (4)
Establishment of infection
Induction of adaptive response
Adaptive immune response
Immunological memory
What are the two key cells of the adaptive immune response? (2)
B and T lymphocytes
How do B and T lymphocytes recognise antigens? (2)
Express unique receptors for antigens
T-cells and B-cells have antigen receptors
T-cell receptor (TCR) and B-cell receptor(BCR) – both specific for only one antigenic determinant
What are the functions of B-lymphocytes? (4)
Produce antibodies (Humoral immunity)
10-15% of lymphocytes
Triggered by antigen to differentiate into plasma cells and memory B-cell
Combat bacterial and some viral infections
What are the functions of T-lymphocytes? (3)
Cell mediated immunity
75-80% of lymphocytes
Combat viruses, fungi, intracellular bacteria and cancerous cells
How do B and T lymphocytes produce a response? (5)
Receptors recognise antigens
T and B cells selected as they can recognise the antigens
B and T cells expand to produce larger numbers (clonal expansion)
This produces effector cells which directly deal with the antigen
Also produces memory cells - long-lived cells that recognise antigen and more rapid response if encounter same antigen again
What is immunological memory and why is it important? (3)
Ability of the immune system to respond more rapidly and effectively to pathogens that have been encountered previously
This reflects the clonal expansion lymphocytes with specificity for the antigen
Harnessed in vaccination in which pathogen antigens are administered in a less harmful form, thus priming a response against the pathogen
Why are vaccines important? (1)
Harnesses the adaptive immune response to protect against pathogens
How does immunological memory confer long lasting protection? (5)
More responder cells available
More efficient antigen recognition/activation: may not require costimulatory signals for activation
Rapid and effective migration to tissues and lymph nodes
More effective function: produce more cytokines (T-cells) or antibodies (B-cells)
Longer lasting: naïve cells live for few days/months; memory cells persist for years
Where are lymphocytes present? (1)
In specialised lymphoid tissues
What are primary and secondary lymphoid organs? (2)
Primary organs - where the lymphocytes develop and undergo maturation steps
Secondary - where they complete maturation and, encounter antigens and differentiate
What are the primary organs of the lymphoid system? (4)
Bone marrow
Thymus
Initial sites for production of lymphocytes
Lymphocytes 1st express antigen receptors
What are the secondary organs of the lymphoid system? (4)
Lymph nodes
Spleen
Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
Sites where lymphocytes first encounter antigens
Where do T cells originate? (1)
Thymus
Where do B cells originate? (1)
Bone marrow
What is antigen-independent differentiation and where does it occur? (1)
Cells differentiate into B and T cells
Secondary lymphoid organs
Where is the adaptive immune response initiated? (1)
In secondary lymphoid tissues
How do lymphocytes continually survey secondary lymphoid organs for evidence of infection? (3)
Movement of cells out of the lymph into the blood ensures that populations of cells in the nodes are in a state of flux
This ensures that should a pathogen be present there is an increased likelihood that it will be encountered by a lymphocyte in a lymph node
Allows lymphocytes to continually survey secondary lymphoid organs for evidence of infection.
What are lymph nodes? (1)
A secondary lymphoid tissue that provides a site for resting B-cells and T-cells to reside
What is the function of lymph nodes? (4)
Filter lymph of cells and foreign material
Where B-cells and T-cells can first recognise and respond to antigen
Antigen recognition can drive antigen-dependent differentiation
Tissues where products of the adaptive immune response (antibodies, effector T-cells) are generated
How does T cell development take place in the thymus? (4)
Progenitor cells from sites of haematopoiesis (bone marrow) begin to migrate to the thymus in the eight or ninth week of gestation in humans.
Developing T-cells in the thymus are known as thymocytes.
Thymocytes proliferate and differentiate into distinct sub-populations of mature T-cells.
Mature T-cells can then migrate to the secondary lymphoid tissues
What is the thymus? (1)
A lobular organ that is functionally separated
Where do immature thymocytes proliferate? (1)
In the outer layer of the cortex and undergo selection in the inner layer of the cortex
What is DiGeorge syndrome? (2)
A developmental defect in which the thymus does not form
Subjects with this disorder have B-cells, but few T-cells
What are T cell receptors (TCR) and why are they important? (2)
During T-cell development cells must first express a TCR
Only once it expresses a TCR can it be considered a T-cell