Antibodies Flashcards
Which cells produce Antibodies
?
Beta Lymphocytes
Explain the journey of antibodies, starting at its origin.
Arise from stem cells in bone marrow –> differentiate in the central lymphoid, organs B cells in bone marrow, T cells in thymus –> migrate in bloodstream (still naive) to peripheral secondary lymphoid organs (yellow), lymph nodes, spleen, gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), Peyers patches, tonsils, appendix
Explain what is meant by naive beta cells ?
Beta cells that have not met antigen
What is the main site of antigen encounter for naive beta cells ?
Peripheral lymphoid tissues
Where do beta cells go following drainage of tissue fluid through the lymph nodes and into the thoracic duct ?
Recirculating B cells enter back into the bloodstream by the thoracic duct and joins lymph node in arterial blood
Describe the organisation of lymph nodes.
Cortex and inner medulla
CORTEX
Has an outer section of B cells organised into follicles, a paracortical area of T cells, dendritic cells, and Germinal Centres of B cell proliferation (form during an immune response)
MEDULLA
Contains macrophages and antibody secreting B cells (Plasma cells)
AFFERENT LYMPHATICS
Brings in antigen
What are the secondary lymphoid organs ?
Spleen, lymph nodes, Peyer’s patches, tonsils
What are the primary lymphoid organs ?
Red bone marrow, thymus
How do antigens get into the spleen ? into the lymph nodes ?
From blood rather than lymph.
Through afferent lymphatic vessel
Describe the organisation of the spleen.
RED PULP
Site of RBS destruction
WHITE PULP (lymphoid)
- Blood carrying lymphocytes and antigen enter from a trabecular artery into a central arteriole
- Then pass into a marginal sinus and exit through a trabecular vein
- Marginal sinus surrounded by lymphocytes
- Within marginal sinus it is the periarteriolar sheath (PALS), made up of T cells
- B cell follicles and a B cell corona also form
Describe the course of antibody production upon meeting an antigen for the first, and second time.
1) Primary Response
- Take a few days (because adaptive immunity)
- Sudden increase, then progressive decrease of antibody concentration (because plasma cells are short lived)
2) Secondary Response
- Faster and larger (more antibodies) response
- Because some B cells made in primary response do not die but turn themselves into memory B cells (go back into lymph nodes and sit there if necessary
- Secondary response to one antigen does not prevent you from making a response to another antigen )
Are antibodies membrane bound ?
Can be expressed as membrane bound (B cell receptor - BCR) or secreted forms.
How specific are B cells in producing antibodies ?
B cells express a single Ab specificity only
What are the main functions of antibodies ?
1) Opsonisation, enhances phagoyctosis
2) Neutralisation (of viruses, toxins) by binding “to antigens (on virus, or toxin) and block their attachment sites”
3) Complement activation, activate complement cascade
4) Agglutination
Describe the structure of antibodies.
- four polypeptide chains
- two identical heavy (H) chains
- two identical light chains (L)
- H chains are disulfide bonded to each other, and each H chain is also disulfide bonded to a L chain
- Two L chain exist, lamba (λ) and kappa (ϰ). Any individual Ab has either one or the other, never a mix of the two.
- N termini bind pathogens whilst C termini binds cell and activates immune response