Antibodies:

Structure
and
Mechanism
of Action
A Deep Dive into Immune
System Defenders

Dr Alaa Tarek
10-05-2024
Table of Content
• Introduction to the immune
system
• Specific and nonspecific immunity
• Adaptive immunity and the
components of it : B cells , T cells
• Roles of B cells in antibody
formation
• Antibodies structures and
functions
• Key features of the immune
system
 Immune
System
The immune system is the major line of
defense in the human body. It protects
the body against bacteria, virus, and
disease -causing microorganisms.

Our immunity is composed of Two distinct

parts, innate and adaptive immunity.
Cellular components of
the immune system. ​

• Innate immunity: They

provide the first line of defense
against bacteria, viruses, and
cancer.

• Adaptive immunity refers

to an antigen-specific defense
mechanism that takes several
days to develop but provides
long-lasting protection.
Nonspecific
Immunity
Explains the primary line of defense
against any pathogen to prevent disease
and slow the progression of it
• The primary lines of defense :
Barriers:
- Skin Barrier
- Chemical defense:
 Saliva- tears- nasal secretions-
mucous – stomach acid (HCL)
- Cellular Defense :
Innate immunity
Innate Immunity:
Cellular Defense

Basophils,
eosinophils, neutrophil
s, mast cells, natural
killer cells,
macrophages, and
dendritic cells mediate
the innate immunity.
Macrophages and
Dendritic cells

• Macrophages and dendritic cells are unique

subsets that have both innate and
adaptive immune cell traits.
• As professional antigen-presenting cells,
macrophages and dendritic cells are critical in
inducing the adaptive immunity by presenting
the antigens to antigen-specific T and B
lymphocytes.
The Adaptive Immunity
( Specific Immunity )

• The adaptive immune system

includes:
• B cell-mediated humoral
immunity
Antibody – response
• T cell-mediated cellular
immunity,
Cell-mediated immune response
• These soldiers are subject to
specific antigens .
What is an
Antigen
Antigen is a molecule or
particle that triggers an
immune response
B Lymphocytes ( Plasma Cells )
B Lymphocytes ( B Cells)
Structure of the Antibody :
Immunoglobulin
• Antibodies or Immunoglobulins are Y
shaped .
• Variable region also known as ( fab)
o Binds to molecules ( antigens of the
pathogen )
• Constant region : Fc region
o Determines isotopes
o Heavy chain
o Determines the classification of the
immunoglobulin
They are both held by disulfide
bonds
What are the
different forms of
antibodies

•Five isotypes (IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA,

and IgE) according to their H
chains, which provide each isotype
with distinct characteristics and
roles.

•IgG is the most abundant antibody

isotype in the blood (plasma), 70-
75% of human immunoglobulins
(antibodies).
IgG is the Imost abundant also described as Gamma
IgG is important in the recognition of antigen-antibody complexes
by leukocytes and macrophages.
70-75%
IgM usually circulates in the blood, accounting for about 10% of
human immunoglobulins. IgM has a pentameric structure in which
five basic Y-shaped molecules linked together.
. ​
IgA is abundant in serum, nasal mucus, saliva, breast milk,
and intestinal fluid, accounting for 10-15% of human
immunoglobulins.
IgA forms dimers (i.e., two IgA monomers joined together).

IgD accounts for less than 1%. - Unknown action

IgE is present in no more than 0.001%.

Its original role is to protect against parasites. , IgE is primarily
involved in allergy.
Mode of Action
Antibodies have three main functions:

1) Antibodies are secreted into the blood and

mucosa, where they bind to and inactivate
foreign substances such as pathogens and
toxins (neutralization).

2) Antibodies activate the complement

system to destroy bacterial cells by lysis
(punching holes in the cell wall).

3) Antibodies facilitate phagocytosis of

foreign substances by phagocytic cells
(opsonization).
Role of Antibodies
The specificity
of Antibodies
• Each antibody recognizes one specific
antigen.
For example, an antibody that recognizes
the mumps virus cannot recognize the
measles virus. Conversely, an antibody that
recognizes the measles virus cannot
recognize the mumps virus. This feature is
called “antibody specificity.”

Each B cell (antibody-producing cell)

produces one kind of antibody. However,
pathogens produce millions of harmful
factors.

Then, how does the body defend itself

T – Lymphocytes
•.
• They originate in the bone marrow and develop in the
thymus.
• T-cells differentiate into helper cells, cytotoxic cells, and
regulatory cells. These cells are released into the
bloodstream.
• When these cells are triggered by an antigen, helper T-cells
release cytokines that act as messengers.
• These cytokines initiate the differentiation of B-cells into
plasma cells which release antibodies against the antigens.
• The cytotoxic T-cells kills the cancer cells.
• Regulatory T-cells regulate immune reactions
T cells Vs B cells
 Specific Immunity / Adaptive Immunity

There are Four key features of the

immune system:
•1. Specificity of antibodies: Antibodies
precisely recognize toxins and pathogens.

•2. Diversity of antibodies: Antibodies

against a variety of antigens preexist in the
body.

•3. Immunological memory: We don’t don’t

develop symptoms of measles

•4. Immune tolerance: Self cells and tissues

Immunological Memory

Millions of different B cells are circulating

in the body so that every antigen is seen.
That makes the body prepared for the
pathogens' attack. By possessing B cells
that produce unique antibody molecules.
This feature is called “antibody diversity.”

After an infection, the cells producing

pathogen-specific antibodies multiply and
increase proportionally. As a result, the
body is protected from repeated infection.
This feature is called “immunological
memory.”
Immune tolerance

• “Why don’t tens to hundreds of millions of B cells recognize and attack

self-tissues?”

Antibodies recognize all types of antigens, except self-antigens. This

feature is called “immune tolerance.” B cells that react to self-antigens
are generated, but are eliminated within the bone marrow. Even if some
autoreactive B cells evade the elimination process and reach the
periphery, those B cells that produce antibodies to self-antigens
(autoantibodies) are inactivated by another mechanism including
regulation by T-regs..

When these mechanisms are disrupted, “autoimmune disease” develops,

characterized by immune cell-mediated self-tissue attack. Possible causes
of autoimmune disease include viral infection, high fever, pregnancy, and
the recently proposed abnormalities in the intestinal microbiome.
 Quick Recap
• The immune system is consist of two major categories: innate and adaptive immunity

• The innate immunity is mainly the primary line of defense, it consists of cells that also
aid in the activation of the Adaptive immunity : Specific immunity

• Once an Antigen enters the body, b cells are ready to make Antibodies called
immunoglobulins according to the type of antigen

• The Igs are responsible for attacking and eliminating any pathogen

• T cells mature in the thymus gland and are involved in the cell mediated response,
attacking infected cells

• Immune memory is key to fight any recurrent infection

The body's Immune Response Sum-
up
https://youtu.be/Yu0oCsXe99o
Concept Check: Answer the following questions
Label this
structure
Which of the following statements about B lymphocytes is
FALSE?
Responses
B cells differentiate into plasma cells.

B lymphocytes contain B cell receptors that bind to

antigens.

 B lymphocytes make up the majority of the lymphocytes

circulating in the body.
B lymphocytes bind and engulf foreign antigens.
For more information and Questions
• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZTf3OXJDWA&ab_channel
=ThomasSchwenke
• https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-biology2/chapter
/mucosal-surfaces-and-immune-tolerance
/
Thank
you
References
• https://byjus.com/biology/immunity/
• https://
www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-is-an-Antigen.
aspx
• https://irepertoire.com/t-cell-and-b-cell-overview/
• https://thesciencenotes.com/t-cells-b-cells-functions-str
ucture-properties
/
• https://ruo.mbl.co.jp/bio/e/support/method/antibody-isot
ype.html#:~:text=Human%20antibodies%20are%20cla
ssified%20into,with%20distinct%20characteristics%20a
nd%20roles.&text=IgG%20is%20the%20most%20abun
dant,of%20human%20immunoglobulins%20(antibodies