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Lesson # 13 - Specific Immune Response

The document summarizes specific immune responses, which are precisely targeted to destroy specific antigens. It discusses the cells involved - lymphocytes including T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells. T-cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity, recognizing antigens presented by antigen-presenting cells. B-cells mediate antibody responses by producing antibodies against antigens. The document also describes antigen presentation by MHC proteins and the processes of cell-mediated and antibody-mediated responses.

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Smith Pennan
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33 views7 pages

Lesson # 13 - Specific Immune Response

The document summarizes specific immune responses, which are precisely targeted to destroy specific antigens. It discusses the cells involved - lymphocytes including T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells. T-cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity, recognizing antigens presented by antigen-presenting cells. B-cells mediate antibody responses by producing antibodies against antigens. The document also describes antigen presentation by MHC proteins and the processes of cell-mediated and antibody-mediated responses.

Uploaded by

Smith Pennan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson # 13

Specific Immune Response


While non-specific immune responses are destroying pathogens and preventing the spread of infection,
the body is mobilizing it’s specific immune response. It takes several days to activate specific immune
responses.

Specific immune responses are precisely targeted to destroy specific antigens.

Specific immunity is characterized by the following;

I. It is specific – it recognizes and is directed against particular antigens.


II. It is systemic – not restricted to the site of initial infection
III. It has memory – after an initial exposure it recognizes and mounts an even stronger attack on
the previously encountered pathogens.

Two types of specific immunity;

a) Humoral or Antibody mediated Response


b) Cell mediated – Before we explain the two, let us examine some other interesting things

Definitions

Antigen – are substances that can mobilize the immune system and provoke an immune response.

Antigens are large and complex molecules. Only certain parts of an entire antigen known as antigenic
determinants, provokes the response.

Cells involved in specific immunity

Lymphocytes are the principal cells involved in specific immune response. Three main types of
lymphocytes are:

a) T- lymphocytes - T-cells
b) B- lymphocytes – B-cells
c) NK cells

T-lymphocytes are responsible for cell-mediated immunity

B-lymphocytes are responsible for antibody mediated immunity.


All lymphocytes develop from stem cells (embryonic cells) in the bone marrow.

B-cells complete their development in the adult bone marrow.

T-cells mature in the thymus gland.

AST-cells move through the thymus, they divide many times and develop specific surface proteins with
distinctive receptor sites.

T-cells are distinguished by the T-cell receptor (TCR) which recognizes specific antigens

Two main types (populations) of T-cells develop in the thymus, namely:

a) T-cytotoxic cells –( T C ¿
b) T helper cells –( T H ¿
(T H cells) also known as CD 4 cells. These cells secrete cytokines that in turn activate B cells and
macrophages.

On the other hand T C cells recognized and destroy cells infected with foreign antigens.

Other cells involved in the specific immune response include: Antigen-Presenting Cells. (APC’s)

The major role of (APC’s) is to;

I. Engulf antigens
II. Present fragments of these antigens on their own surfaces (like signal flags). These fragments
can be recognized by T cells. In other words APC’s present antigens to the cells that will destroy
them.

The major cells types acting as APC’s include;

I. Dendritic cells – in connective tissue


II. Langerhans cell – in skin epidermis
III. Macrophages
Major - Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

What is this?

The external surfaces of all our cells are dotted with a huge variety of protein molecules. These protein
molecules (or self-antigens are not foreign or antigenic to other individuals. (This is the basis of
transfusion reactions and graft rejection).

Among the cell-surface proteins is a group of glycoproteins called MHC proteins. These proteins are
coded for by group of closely linked genes known as major histocompatibility complex (MHC).

There are two major groups of MHC proteins:

I. Class 1 MHC proteins: are found on virtually all body cells.


II. Class 11 MHC proteins; are found only on certain cells that act on the immune response.

Anti-body Mediated Response


B-cells are responsible for antibody mediated response. Millions of B-cells are produced in the bone
marrow daily.

Each B-cell is genetically programmed to encode a glycoprotein receptor that binds with a specific type
of antigen. This simple means that there is a B-cell specific to each of the millions of antigens that invade
the body.

What happens when a B-cell encounters specific antigen?

When a B-cell comes into contact with a specific type of antigen that bind to it’s receptors it becomes
activated.

Once activated the B-cell divides rapidly (by mitosis) to form a clone of identical B-cells

The clone of B-cells differentiate into;

a) Plasma cells – which produce antibodies

b) Memory and B-cells (long living cells)


A plasma cell can produce more than 10 million mol. of antibody per hour. The antibody binds to the
antigen that originally activated the B-cell.

Cell Mediated Response


T-cells and APC’s are responsible for cell-mediated immunity.

T-cells destroy cells infected with viruses; and cells that have been altered in some way, e.g. cancer cells.
They also destroy cells of foreign grafts.

T-cells do not recognize antigens unless they are presented “properly”.


(Let’s see how that’s done)

When a virus infects a cell, some of the viral protein is broken down to peptides and is displayed on the
cell’s surface together with class 1 MHC molecules. Only T-cells with receptors that bind to the antigen
MHC 1 complex becomes activated.

Once activated a T C cell increases in size and divides mitotically to form a clone of identical T C – cells.

T C-cells then migrate to the area of infection and release proteins (such as perforins and granzymes)
that stimulate the destruction of target cells.

T H cells are also activated by antigen- MHC 11 antigen complex.

Once activated, T H cells give rise to a clone of T H cells.

T H cells function by;

I. Attracting macrophages to the site of infection

II. Stimulating B-cells to produce specific antibodies.

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