IMMUNOLOG

Y
an introduction

Mark Michael J. Cuevas,

Resistance

The ability to ward off disease

through our defenses

Immunity
Ability of the body to specifically
counteract foreign organisms or
substances called antigens
 Immune System
Functional system that recognizes foreign
molecules and acts to inactivate or destroy it

Composed of many interdependent cell types that

collectively protect the body from bacterial,
parasitic, fungal, viral infections and from the
growth of tumor cells

Can engulf bacteria, kill parasites or tumor cells or

kill viral-infected cells
Organs of the Immune System

BONE MARROW

Produces B-cells, natural killer cells,

granulocytes and immature thymocytes,
in addition to RBCs and platelets
Organs of the Immune System

THYMUS

Produces mature T-Cells, which are then

released into the bloodstream
 Organs of the Immune System

SPLEEN

Immunologic filter of the blood

Made up of B-cells, T-cells, macrophages, dendritic
cells, natural killer cells and RBC
 Organs of the Immune System

LYMPH NODES

Immunologic filter for the bodily fluid

known as LYMPH
They are connected by lymph channels
and capillaries, which remove foreign
material from the lymph before it enters
the bloodstream
IMMUNITY
Ability of the host to defend against a
particular infectious agent
It results from the production of
specialized lymphocytes and antibodies
Acquired Immunity
Immunity that results from the active
production or receipt of antibodies during
one’s lifetime
 Types of acquired immunity

NATURALLY NATURALLY NATURALLY

ACTIVE ACQUIRED PASSIVE
ACQUIRED ACQUIRED
IMMUNITY
IMMUNITY IMMUNITY

ARTIFICIALLY ARTIFICIALLY ARTIFICIALLY

ACTIVE ACQUIRED PASSIVE
ACQUIRED IMMUNITY ACQUIRED
IMMUNITY IMMUNITY
1. The baby has received a BCG vaccine at the
time of its birth
2. A 5-year old child contracted chickenpox and
the disease did not recur thereafter
3. The community nurse gave OPV to a 6-month
old infant
4. The mother breastfeeds her newly born child
every four hours
5. The doctor administered Rabies Immune
Globulin to a 17-year old male who was
admitted in the ER due to dog bite
 VACCINES

A suspension of organisms or fractions of organisms

that is used to induce immunity
 Types of vaccines

INACTIVATED Killed pathogens

Vaccine
CONJUGATE Bacterial
Vaccine capsular antigen

ATTENUATED Weakened or
Vaccine avirulent
 Types of vaccines

From Exotoxin
TOXOID Vaccine inactivated
Antigenic
SUBUNIT Vaccine portions of a
pathogen
Plasmids
DNA Vaccine injected into
skin/muscle
tissue
Isolated bacteria
AUTOGENOUS injected to
Vaccine induce more
Antigenic variation

A change in surface antigens of some viruses

Duality of the immune system

Humoral Immunity
Also termed as ANTIBODY-MEDIATED
IMMUNITY
Involves the production of ANTIBODIES
B-Cells are responsible for the production of
antibodies
 Duality of the immune system

Cell-mediated Immunity
Involves specialized lymphocytes called T-cells
Most effective against bacteria and viruses located
within phagocytic or infected host cells
Also an important factor in our defense against cancer
 Humoral Immunity

Nature of antigens

Antigenic Determinants (Epitopes) –

component of a bacterial cell wall that is
capable of stimulating the production of
antibodies
Haptens – small molecules that it is not
often antigenic unless it is attached to a
carrier molecule
 Humoral Immunity
Nature of antibodies
Belong to a class of glycoproteins called
Immunoglobulins
Highly specific and only react with only one antigenic
determinant
Basic structure resembles the letter Y
- 2 identical heavy and light polypeptide chains
- 2 antigen-binding sites
- Fc region
- chains are connected to each other by
disulfide bonds
 Immunoglobulin classes

IgG
 Only Ig that can cross placental barrier
 Long-lived and most abundant in serum
 Protect against bacteria and viruses, neutralize
bacterial toxins and enhance effectiveness of
phagocytic cells
 Immunoglobulin classes

IgA
 Found in saliva, tears, seminal fluid,
colostrum, breast milk and mucous
secretions of nose, lungs and GIT
 Most abundant in the body but short-
lived
 Prevents attachment, colonization and
invasion of pathogens
 Protects infants from GI infections
 Immunoglobulin classes

IgM
 Does not cross the placenta
 First to appear in response to exposure to an
antigen
 Bactericidal to gram-negative bacteria
 Relatively short-lived
 Immunoglobulin classes

IgE
 Produced in response to allergens
 Found on the surfaces of basophils and mast cells
 Immunoglobulin classes

IgD
 Found in large quantities on the surface of B-
cells, some in the blood and lymph
 Function is unknown
 Act as antigen receptors on the surface of B-
cells
 B-cells do not encounter
a stimulating antigen

Blebbing Apoptosis Necrosis

(programmed
cell death)
Attracts
Inflammation
phagocytes
 Cell-mediated Immunity

Cytokines /
Lymphokines
 Chemical messengers
 Inhibitory or excitatory
 Types of cytokines

Interleukin-
1
 Stimulates TH cells in presence
of antigens
 Attracts phagocytes in
inflammatory response
 Types of cytokines

Interleukin-
2
 Proliferation of antigen-stimulated TH
cells
 Differentiation of B-cells
 Activation of TC cells and NK cells
 Types of cytokines

Interleukin-
8
 Induces migration of
leukocytes into infected areas
 Types of cytokines

Gamma-
Interferon
 Inhibits viral replication
 Increases activity of macrophages
against microbes and tumor cells
 Types of cytokines

Tumor Necrosis Factor-

Beta
 Cytotoxic to tumor cells
 Enhances phagocytic activity
 Types of cytokines

Granulocyte-Macrophage
Colony Stimulating Factor
 Stimulates formation of red and
white blood cells from stem cells
 Specialized
lymphocytes

T-Cells
 Developed from stem cells in
the bone marrow
 Precursors migrate and reach
maturity in thymus
 Mature cells migrate to various
lymphoid organs
 Types of t-cells

Helper T-Cells

 Influence the activity of other

immune system cells
 Types of t-cells

Cytotoxic T-Cells

 Destroy target cells on contact

 May kill cancer cells and cells
of transplanted tissue
 Types of t-cells

Delayed
Hypersensitivity T-
Cells
 Associated with allergic reactions
 Types of t-cells

Suppressor T Cells

 Regulate immune response by

turning it off
 Specialized
lymphocytes
Activated
Macrophages
 Found in resting state
 Phagocytic cells
 Stimulation is primarily by
ingestion of antigenic material
or by cytokines
 More effective
 Specialized
lymphocytes

Natural Killer Cells

 Capable of destroying other cells
 Can also attack large parasites
 Are not immunologically specific
 Body’s Immune Response
4 Characteristics
of Immune
Response
1. Discriminatory
2. Specificity
3. Anamnesis
4. Transferability of Living Cells
 Body’s Immune Response

Primary Response
First exposure to antigen

Characteristics:
• Long-latent period
• Slow rise in blood titer
• Low peak short plateau
• Period of decline as fast as rate of increase
 Body’s Immune Response
Secondary
Response
Subsequent exposure to antigen

Characteristics:
• Short-latent period
• Rapid increase of titer
• Peak of antibodies produced is very high
• Extended plateau
Thank You for Listening!