CH 15 - Adaptive Immune Response Flashcards
Adaptive immunity
Protection provided by immune responses that improve due to exposure to antigens
Involves B & T cells
Antibody
Y-shaped protein that binds antigen
Antigen
Molecule that reacts specifically with either antibody or antigen receptor on lymphocyte
Antigen-presenting cells (APCs)
Cells that can present exogenous antigens to T cells
Ex: dendritic cells, B cells, macrophages
B cell
Type of lymphocyte programmed to make antibody molecules
Cell-mediated immunity (CMI)
Immunity involving T-cell response
Clonal selection
Process in which lymphocyte’s antigen receptor binds to antigen, allowing lymphocyte to multiply
Cytotoxic T cell
Type of lymphocyte programmed to destroy infected or cancerous “self” cells
Dendritic cell
Cell type responsible for activating naive T cells
Effector lymphocyte
Differentiated descendant of an activated lymphocyte
Its actions help eliminate antigen
Helper T cell
Type of lymphocyte programmed to activate B cells & macrophages & assist other parts of adaptive immune response
Humoral immunity
Immunity involving B cells & antibody response
Lymphocytes
Group of WBCs (leukocytes) involved in adaptive immunity
Ex: B & T cells
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules
Host cell surface proteins that present antigens to T cell
Plasma cell
Effector form of B cell
Functions as antibody-secreting factory
Tc Cell
Effector form of cytotoxic T cell
Induces apoptosis in infected/cancerous “self” cells
Th Cell
Effector form of helper T cell
Activates B cells & macrophages & releases cytokines that stimulate other cells of the immune system
Primary vs. Secondary Response
Primary Response
(Responding B cell , lag period, peak response, effect)
1st response to a particular antigen
- Naive B cells
May take week or more to develop
- Lag period of 10-12 days
(before Ab detection in blood)
- Peak response = 7-10 days
Activated B cells proliferate & differentiate into increasing #s of plasma cells in presence of Ag
- Slow/steady increase in Ab titer
Overtime, some B cells undergo changes enhancing immune response
Thymus-dependent & independent Ags
Secondary Response
Immune system remembers pathogen on subsequent exposure
- Memory B cells
Enhanced & specific immune response
- Often limit invaders before noticeable harm done
- Lag period of 1-3 days
- Peak response = 3-5 days
- 100-1000x greater response than primary
- Higher Ab affinity
Vaccines exploit immunologic memory
Some memory B cells differentiate into plasma cells
- Rapid production of Abs
Thymus-dependent Ags
Basis of Vaccine
Adaptive immunity
Ex: Milkmaids in the 1700s resistant to smallpox because exposed to cow pox 1st (related)
Adaptive Immunity Divided Into:
- Humoral immunity
- Ab mediated (B cells)
- Eliminates EXTRACELLULAR pathogens - Cellular immunity
- T cell mediated
- Eliminates INTRACELLULAR pathogens
Humoral Immunity:
Receptors/Cell Types
Mediated by B cells
(develop in bone marrow)
- B cell receptors (BCRs)
- Membrane-bound derivative of - Plasma cells
- Produce Abs when Ags bind BCRs - Memory cells
Cellular Immunity:
Receptors/Cells Types
Mediated by T cells
(mature in thymus)
- T cell receptors (TCR)
- Help with Ag recognition - Cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells
- Helper (CD4+) T cells
Lymphoid System
Collection of tissues/organs through which lymph travels
Includes:
1. Lymphatic vessels
2. Primary lymphoid organs
3. Secondary lymphoid organs
Major Functions of Lymphoid System
- Concentrate Ags into lymphoid organs
- Circulate lymphocytes through lymphoid organs (so can interact with Ags)
- Carry products of immune response to bloodstream/tissues (Abs & effector cells)
Lymph
Extracellular fluid that bathes tissue (result of circulatory system)
Lymphatic vessels carry to body tissue
- Travels through vessels to lymph nodes
Contains:
1. Tissue products
2. Ags
3. Abs
4. Cells (lymphocytes)
Areas where immune cells congregate at mucosa to defend against penetrating microbes:
MALT = mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
SALT = skin-associated lymphoid tissue
GALT = gut-associated lymphoid tissue
BALT = bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue
Primary Lymphoid Organs
Bone marrow & thymus
Location where stem cells destined to become B & T cells mature
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
Sites where mature lymphocytes gather to encounter Ags
Includes:
1. Lymph nodes (trap Ags)
2. Spleen (trap foreign substances)
3. Tonsils
4. Adenoids
5. Appendix
Antigens
Compounds that elicit Ab production
- “Ab generator”
- Any compound that reacts with Ab or antigen receptor on lymphocyte
Immunogens elicit immune response
- Proteins & polysaccharides = strong responses
May NOT elicit immune response
- Substances with MW < 10,000 da
- Lipids & nucleic acids
Antigenic determinate (epitope)
Determines recognition of Ag
B & T cells recognize distinct epitopes
Structure of Antibodies
Monomer = basic unit (IgG)
Made up of 4 chains of amino acids held together by disulfide bonds
- 2 chains = heavy
- 2 chains = light
Constant region (each heavy & light chain)
- Fc region binds Fc receptors
Variable region (each heavy & light chain)
- Unique to each Ab
- Antigen-binding site
- “Fab” region
Protective Outcomes of Ab-Ag Binding
- Neutralization
- Prevents toxin/virus from interacting with/entering cell - Immobilization & prevention of adherence
- Ab binds to cellular structures to interfere with function (ex: flagellum) - Agglutination & precipitation
- Clumping of bacterial cells by specific Ab (involves 2 binding sites)
- Makes phagocytosis easier - Opsonization
- Ab coats bacteria to enhance phagocytosis - Complement activation
- Ab binding surface of microbe triggers classical pathway - Antibody-dependent cell-mediated toxicity (ADCC)
- Fc region of multiple Abs binds cell (makes target)
- Substances secrete by nonspecific cytotoxic cells