Lymphoid Tissues Flashcards
What is the adaptive immune system comprised of?
primarily comprised of 2 lymphocyte populations- T cells (undergo final development in the thymus) and B cells (develop in bone marrow)
What are the hallmarks of adaptive immunity?
specificity and memory
How does the adaptive immune system achieve specificity and memory?
B and T cells have specialized receptors on their cell surface (BCR and TCR)
Each B and T cell has the ability to express only a single TCR or BCR that is unique=> both in the genetic sequence that codes it and the antigen it can recognise.
What is the lymphatic system comprised of?
lymphatic vessels
secondary lymphoid tissue
What is lymphoid tissue split into?
primary, secondary, tertiary
What are primary lymphoid organs?
The site of lymphopoiesis, where new lymphocytes are made
What are some primary lymphoid organs?
thymus, bone marrow, foetal liver
What are the lymphocytes?
B and T cells and natural killer cells
What is meant by the specificity and memory of the adaptive immune system?
specificity- provided by a vast range of unique T and B cell receptors
memory- rapid expansion in response to secondary encounter
What is the bone marrow in terms of blood cells?
primary site of hematopoiesis
What is the bone marrow in terms of B cells?
The B cell repertoire is generated in the bone marrow
Final maturation occurs in the periphery
What is the thymus in terms of T cells?
Immature T cells migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus (thymocytes)
It is the tissue of T cell selection:
- stepwise differentiation
- positive selection and negative selection of thymocytes
- final selection and exit
What happens to the thymus over time?
Thymic involution- the shrinkage of the thymus with age. Associated with a change in structure and a reduced mass.
therefore, thymic output decreases= reliant on cells already in the body and them proliferating
When does white cell production increase?
during infection
How is lymph formed?
Through the draining of interstitial fluid out of the capillaries and into the lymphatic vessels
Which part of the bone marrow does haematopoiesis occur on?
The red part
Where are B cells made in the bone marrow?
B cells in the yellow marrow in the middle
What is positive selection?
positive= can the T cell receptor signal
T cells with CD4 and CD8 proteins on surface will try bind MHC1 and MHC2. if it does, this is good as the correct proteins were expressed, and cell is not killed.
What is negative selection?
negative= does it react against our own body
Keeping the cells that don’t bind and interact with self peptides
If the TCR recognizes self peptides then apoptosis is triggered
How do the T cells differentiate into T Helper Cells and T Killer cells?
Depending on which out of CD4 or CD8 had the strongest bond, the T cell will up regulate that one
How does the thymus change with age?
Degenerates
How does the number of peripheral T cells change with age?
Remains the same - peripheral T cells numbers are maintained by the division of mature T cells
Why are older people more vulnerable to new strains of pathogens?
Due to thymic involution, the T cell numbers are maintained by the division of mature T cells outside the central lymphoid organs, therefore you get less variety of T cells
How do T cells move from their site of production?
The thymus releases chemokines initiate the chemotaxis of T cells from the bone marrow to the thymus
What happens to the thymus during infection?
No change
What are secondary lymphoid organs?
Where lymphocytes can interact with antigens and other lymphocytes
What are some secondary lymphoid tissues?
Spleen, peyer’s patches, appendix, lymph nodes,tonsils, mucosal associated lymphoid tissue
Where are lymphoid tissues and how are they connected?
Distributed around the body
Interconnected via the lymphatic system and the blood (takes drainage from large SA of body)
Can be discrete organs (e.g., lymph nodes/ adenoids) or distinct regions within a tissue (e.g., spleen)
How would you describe lymphoid tissue?
generally highly organised structures, brings cells in close proximity to antigen
What are lymph nodes?
Highly organized, encapsulated structures which are located at points of convergence of lymphatic vessels
What are germinal centers?
Anatomically restricted site where B cells undergo mutation and selection to generate high affinity antibodies
It is where antibody repertoire is enhanced against a specific pathogen
How would you describe lymph nodes?
Distinct T and B cell zones
Afferent (in) and efferent (out) lymph
Arterial and venous connection
Bean shaped
Through what vessel does lymph enter into the lymph nodes?
The afferent lymphatic vessel
What is the purpose of the spleen being connected to blood?
highly connected to blood, so filters and checks blood