BASIC IMMUNOLOGY
BY
DR M C OLISAH
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY ;ANSU ULI
Introduction
Microorganisms are encountered daily
but occasionally cause perceptible
disease.
Many routes of contact with
antigens. What is the
implication?
Explains why the immune
system/response is diverse
Innate immunity: protects
against invasion of pathogens.
Early Induced Immunity: protects
against establishment of
pathogens.
adaptive immune response :
protects against spread of
pathogens.
Differences between steps in
immune responses
The time course and the kinds of immune
cells/effector molecules.
The innate immune mechanisms act
immediately.
Early-induced responses is not long lasting,
keep infection under control but determine
the type of the adaptive immune response
(depending on the cytokine environment).
Cytokines may stimulate predominantly T-cell
or B cell response.
Adaptive immune response is antigen
specific.
During adaptive responses,
specific immunological memory is
also established, ensuring a rapid
re-induction of ab and ag-specific
effectors cells on re-encounters
with the same pathogen, thus
providing long-lasting protection
against re-infection.
Summary of stages of
immune responses
Beneficial effects of immune
system
Immune system recognizes and
destroys disease-causing or
"foreign" agents.
Immune system can discriminate
self from non-self.
Immune system is able to
"remember" foreign antigens if
earlier experienced.
Detrimental effects of the
Immune System
Detrimental:
Discomfort and collateral damage
(inflammation)
Damage to self (hypersensitivity or
autoimmunity).
Innate Immunity
Innate, non-specific, natural or genetic
immunity.
Is sufficient to prevent invasion by a
vast majority of microorganisms.
Sickled RBC is usually more resistant to
P. falciparum infection than HbAA.
The skin and mucos membranes act as
physical barriers.
Lactic acid in the sweat and fatty acids
in the sebaceous secretions are
bactericidal.
Innate Immunity
In addition, the mucus of the
respiratory/genital mucosa/conjuctiva
and lysozyme
possess bactericidal and viricidal
properties.
The fluid/cilia of the respiratory mucosa
in continus motion.
prevent dust particles in the inspired air
from reaching the lung alveoli.
The high acidity of the stomach ensures
the usual sterility of the stomach.
Summary of mechanisms
of Innate immune
responses
Summary of mechanisms
of innate immune
responses
Cells of immune system
Cells of immune system
(Cont’d)
Cells of immune system
(Cont’d)
B-lymphocytes
T-lymphocytes
Neutrophils
are produced and lost in large
numbers each day.
They engulf opsonized particles
coated with antibodies and or
complement,
They recognise and ingest many
pathogens directly.
thereby providing an immediate
innate cellular immune response.
Soluble molecules from
damaged tissues or activated
macrophages attracts
neutrophils
Neutrophils: Vascular adherence,
diapedesis, chemotaxis,
phagocytosis and killing
Macrophages
The second important effect of the
interaction of phagocytes with
pathogens is the secretion of cytokines
esp. by macrophages.
Macrophages is important in antigen
processing and presentation.
inducing the expression of co-
stimulatory molecules, and
Cytokines that determine the type of
adaptive immune responses.
Macrophages
(Digestion of
pathogens)
Macrophage (Ag processing
and presentation)
Peptides from Intracellular
antigens:
are presented with MHC 1.
Peptides from extracellular
antigens:
Are presented with MHC 2.
Adaptive Immunity
The kind of cytokine environment
determines the type of adaptive
immune responses as:
Humoral Immunity (B cell
mediated).
Cellular Immunity (T cell mediated)
Cellular Events in 1o
Response
Grey coloured
cells are B cell 1o Ag
(If HMI) or T IgM
cells (If CMI).
Orange coloured
cells are IgG
plasma cells (if
HMI) or Memory Cells
effector T cells
(If CMI).
Cellular events in Secondary
immune responses
Virgin B cell IgM
IgG
Memory Cells
Memory Pool
IgG
Memory Cells
Primary and Secondary
Immune Responses
Organs of immune system
Types of Organs of immune
system
Primary or Central:
Formation of lymphocytes from
stem cells.
Proliferation without antigenic
stimulation.
Maturation of lymphocytes.
Examples: Thymus and Bone
marrow.
Lymphoid organs (Cont’d)
Secondary or Peripheral:
Ag interacts with matured
lymphocytes
E.g: Lymph nodes, spleen and
MALT/GALT
MALT=Mucosal Associated Lymphoid
tissue
MALT are present along the lining of
Digestive tracts,respiratory tracts and
urogenital tracts
Lymphoid organs (Cont’d)
Tertiary lymphoid tissues:
Contain few lymphoid cells.
E.g Cutaneous Associated
Lymphoid Tissues.
In the epidermis of the skin are:
Keratinocytes (Expressing
cytokines and MHC 11 therefore
may act as APC.
Tertiary lymphoid organ
Also in the epidermis of the skin
are:
Langerhan’s cells which are
phagocytic
And expresses MHC class 11
Langerhan’s cells appear like
dendritic cell
Intraepidermal lymphocytes which
Expresses gamma-delta TCR
A typical Follicular Dendritic
Cell showing dendrites
Tertiary lymphoid organ
(Contd)
In the dermis,
there are:
Scattered CD4+
CD8+
Macrophages.
Chemicals from immune
cells/immune system
antibodies, which combine with a
foreign substances,
cytokines such as interferon and
interleukins, and
complement factors, which are
proteins that act in concert with
antibodies, that:
instruct/control other immune cells
or
help to attack/destroy foreign
THANK YOU AND BEST OF
LUCK.
