THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

DISCUSSION
IMMUNE SYSTEM

is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects

against disease. The bodys defense against disease causing organisms, malfunctioning
cells, and foreign particles

FIRST LINE DEFENSE

Skin- The dead, outer layer of skin, known as the epidermis, forms a shield against invaders
and secretes chemicals that kill potential invaders
Mucus and Cilia- As you breathe in, foreign particles and bacteria bump into mucus
throughout your respiratory system and become stuck. Hair-like structures called cilia sweep
this mucus into the throat for coughing or swallowing
Saliva- contains many chemicals that break down bacteria. Thousands of different types of
bacteria can survive these chemicals
Stomach Acid- Swallowed bacteria are broken down by incredibly strong acids in the
stomach that break down your food. The stomach must produce a coating of special mucus
or this acid would eat through the stomach.

SECOND LINE DEFENSE

White Blood Cells- If invaders actually get within the body, then your white blood cells
(WBCs) begin their attack. WBCs normally circulate throughout the blood, but will enter the
bodys tissues if invaders are detected
Phagocytes- These white blood cells are responsible for eating foreign particles by
engulfing them. Once engulfed, the phagocyte breaks the foreign particles apart in
organelles called Lysosomes.
Interferon- Virus-infected body cells release interferon when an invasion occurs. Interferon
chemical that interferes with the ability to viruses to attack other body cells
The Inflammatory Response- Injured body cells release chemicals called histamines, which
begin inflammatory response. Capillaries dilate,Pyrogens released, reach hypothalamus, and
temperature rises,Pain receptors activate,WBCs flock to infected area like sharks to blood

THIRD LINE DEFENSE

Antibodies- Most infections never make it past the first and second levels of defense. Those
that do trigger the production and release of antibodies. Proteins that latch onto, damage,
clump, and slow foreign particles. Each antibody binds only to one specific binding site,
known as an antigen

ANTIBODY PRODUCTION

WBCs gobble up invading particles and break them up. They show the particle pieces to T-cells,
who identify the pieces and find specific B-cells to help. B-cells produce antibodies that are
equipped to find that specific piece on a new particle and attach to the cells
DIVISION of IMMUNE SYSTEM

The efforts of the WBCs known as phagocytes and T-cells are called the cell-mediated
immune system. Protective factor = living cells. Phagocytes eat invaders-cells kill
invaders
The other half of the immune system is called antibody-mediated immunity, meaning that is
controlled by antibodies. This represents the third line of defense in the immune system

Components of the immune system

Innate immune system

Adaptive immune system

Response is non-specific

Pathogen and antigen specific response

Exposure leads to immediate maximal

Lag time between exposure and maximal

response

response

Cell-mediated and humoral components

Cell-mediated and humoral components

No immunological memory

Exposure leads to immunological memory

Found in nearly all forms of life

Found only in jawed vertebrates

INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Surface barriers- barriers protect organisms from infection, including mechanical,

chemical, and biological barriers. Chemical barriers also protect against infection. The skin
and respiratory tract secrete antimicrobial peptides such as the -defensins.Enzymes such
as lysozyme and phospholipase A2 insaliva, tears, and breast milk are also antibacterials.
commensal flora serve as biological barriers by competing with pathogenic bacteria for food
and space and, in some cases, by changing the conditions in their environment, such
as pH or available iron

Inflammation- Inflammation is one of the first responses of the immune system to

infection.[28] The symptoms of inflammation are redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are
caused by increased blood flow into tissue. Inflammation is produced
by eicosanoids and cytokines, which are released by injured or infected cells. Eicosanoids
include prostaglandins that produce fever and the dilation ofblood vessels associated with
inflammation, and leukotrienes that attract certain white blood cells (leukocytes).

Complement system- The complement system is a biochemical cascade that attacks the
surfaces of foreign cells. It contains over 20 different proteins and is named for its ability to
"complement" the killing of pathogens by antibodies. Complement is the
major humoral component of the innate immune response.

Cellular barriers
Leukocytes (white blood cells) act like independent, single-celled organisms and are the
second arm of the innate immune system. These cells identify and eliminate pathogens,
either by attacking larger pathogens through contact or by engulfing and then killing
microorganisms.
Phagocytosis is an important feature of cellular innate immunity performed by cells called
'phagocytes' that engulf, or eat, pathogens or particles. Phagocytes generally patrol the body
searching for pathogens, but can be called to specific locations by cytokines. Phagocytosis
evolved as a means of acquiring nutrients, but this role was extended in phagocytes to
include engulfment of pathogens as a defense mechanism
Neutrophils are normally found in thebloodstream and are the most abundant type of
phagocyte, normally representing 50% to 60% of the total circulating leukocytes.
Macrophages also act as scavengers, ridding the body of worn-out cells and other debris,
and as antigen-presenting cells that activate the adaptive immune system
Dendritic cells (DC) are phagocytes in tissues that are in contact with the external
environment; therefore, they are located mainly in the skin, nose,lungs, stomach,
and intestines.
Dendritic cells serve as a link between the bodily tissues and the innate and adaptive
immune systems, as they present antigen to T cells, one of the key cell types of the adaptive
immune system.
Mast cells reside in connective tissues and mucous membranes, and regulate the
inflammatory response. They secrete chemical mediators that are involved in defending
against parasites and play a role in allergic reactions, such as asthma.

Natural killer cells- Natural killer cells, or NK cells, are a component of the innate
immune system which does not directly attack invading microbes. NK cells destroy
compromised host cells, such as tumorcells or virus-infected cells, recognizing such cells by
a condition known as "missing self." This term describes cells with low levels of a cell-surface
marker called MHC I (major histocompatibility complex) a situation that can arise in viral

infections of host cells.[35] They were named "natural killer" because of the initial notion that
they do not require activation in order to kill cells that are "missing self." Normal body cells
are not recognized and attacked by NK cells because they express intact self MHC antigens.
Those MHC antigens are recognized by killer cell immunoglobulin receptors (KIR) which
essentially put the brakes on NK cells.

ADAPTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Lymphocytes- The cells of the adaptive immune system are special types of leukocytes,
called lymphocytes. B cells and T cells are the major types of lymphocytes and are derived
from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.[35] B cells are involved in the humoral
immune response, whereas T cells are involved in cell-mediated immune response.
T cells recognize a "non-self" target, such as a pathogen, only after antigens (small
fragments of the pathogen) have been processed and presented in combination with a "self"
receptor called a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule.
Two Major Types

I.

Killer T cells are a sub-group of T cells that kill cells that are infected with viruses
(and other pathogens), or are otherwise damaged or dysfunctional, only
recognize antigens coupled to Class I MHC molecules

II.

Helper T cells regulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses and help
determine which immune responses the body makes to a particular
pathogen. These cells have no cytotoxic activity and do not kill infected cells or
clear pathogens directly. They instead control the immune response by directing
other cells to perform these tasks, helper T cells only recognize antigens coupled
to Class II MHC molecules

B lymphocytes and antibodies- A B cell identifies pathogens when antibodies on its

surface bind to a specific foreign antigen.[60] This antigen/antibody complex is taken up by the
B cell and processed by proteolysis into peptides. As the activated B cell then begins
to divide, its offspring (plasma cells) secrete millions of copies of the antibody that
recognizes this antigen. These antibodies circulate in blood plasma and lymph, bind to
pathogens expressing the antigen and mark them for destruction by complement
activation or for uptake and destruction by phagocytes. Antibodies can also neutralize
challenges directly, by binding to bacterial toxins or by interfering with the receptors that
viruses and bacteria use to infect cells.

IMMUNITY- Resistance to a disease causing organism or harmful substance

TWO TYPES OF IMMUNITY

I.

Active Immunity

You produce the antibodies. Your body has been exposed to the antigen in the past either
through: Exposure to the actual disease causing antigen You fought it, you won, you
remember it. Planned exposure to a form of the antigen that has been killed or weakened You
detected it, eliminated it, and remember it
II.

Passive Immunity

You dont produce the antibodies A mother will pass immunities on to her baby during
pregnancy - through the PLACENTA. These antibodies will protect the baby for a short period of
time following birth while its immune system develops. THYMUS is responsible for this

IMMUNE DISORDERS

Allergies- Immune system mistakenly recognizes harmless foreign particles as serious threats
Launches immune response, which causes sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes
Anti-histamines block effect of histamines and bring relief to allergy sufferers
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome- Caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Discovered in 1983. Specifically targets and kills T-cells because normal body cells are
unaffected, immune response is not launched
AIDS- The HIV virus doesnt kill you it cripples your immune system
With your immune system shut down, common diseases that your immune system normally
could defeat become life-threatening
Can show no effects for several months all the way up to 10 years
Transmitted by sexual contact, blood transfusions, contaminated needles
Measles- Caused by an airborne virus, Causes rash and fever,Can have fatal complications
Passive immunity from mothers in infants under 8 months
Now quite a rare disease in developed countries due to vaccination

VACCINATION- A preparation containing antigenic material:

Whole live microorganism

Dead microorganism

Attenuated (harmless) microorganism

Toxoid (harmless form of toxin)

Preparation of harmless gas

Injection into vein or muscle

Oral

Asthma- Breathing becomes difficult, sufferers experience wheezing, coughing, a tightness

about the chest and shortage of breath.