Adaptive Defense
Specific Defense
third line of defense
By
Dr. M. Nasir Hayat
• immune system directly targets invading
microbes.
• Our specific immune defenses respond to
antigens.
• An antigen…. protein or polysaccharide
molecule, typically on the cell membrane
…..nonself.
• Normally our immune system does not
respond to our own antigens ….self
(e.g. autoimmune disease)
• an immune response to a harmless antigen,
such as pollen.
Give Work
types of lymphocytes
• Specific immunity is dependent upon two
types of lymphocytes, the B cells & T cells
• B cells mature in the bone marrow, & T cells
in the thymus gland.
• These cells are capable of recognizing an
antigen -----specific receptor molecules on
their surface which exactly fit individual
antigens
• So many receptor sites to encounter antigens
B Cells
• B cell lymphocytes ---antibody-mediated
immunity (called humoral immunity).
• B cell produce antibodies, (proteins that bind
with and neutralize specific antigens).
Antibody Function
• Antibodies do not kill bacteria, --- mark them for
destruction.
• antibodies bind to viruses --- prevent the viruses
from infecting cells.
• antibodies bind to toxins they can neutralize the
toxin.
Plasma cells
• Once B cells reach their destination, they
remain inactive until they encounter a foreign
cell with an antigen that matches their
particular receptor site
• The foreign antigen can be presented to the B
cell directly, but usually macrophages and T
cell lymphocytes (helper T cells) interact with
B cells as Antigen Presenting Cells to bring
about antibody production.
• the B cell's receptors will bind to the antigen,
the B cell is turned on or stimulated…...grows
bigger, and rapidly multiplies into a large
homogenous group (clone).
• Most of these cells are plasma cells, which
actively secrete antibody
• most of the B cells remain in the
lymphatic system, the
• antibodies are secreted into the lymph fluid
…then enters into the blood plasma to
circulate throughout the body.
• clone cells only live a few days, their
antibodies remain and circulate in the blood
and lymph, gradually decreasing in number.
Memory B cells
• At the time of activation some of the clones
become memory B cells.
• These cells are long lived and have recorded
the information about the foreign antigen.
• in case a second exposure, antibodies can be
made more quickly, and in greater amount,
• second response is much stronger than the
first and puts more antibodies into circulation
Antibody Structure and Function
• different classes of antibodies, or
immunoglobulins (Ig), (IgA, IgG, IgE, and
IgM).
• attach to the surface of a microbe …. make it
more easily phagocytized by neutrophils,
monocytes and macrophages
• Anything that simplifies phagocytosis is called
an opsonin.
• The process of antibodies attaching to
invaders can be termed 'opsonization.'
• Some antibodies can bind and inactivate
certain poisons or toxins and are called
antitoxins
• some of them can stimulate …. proteins
found in plasma, called complement.
T Cells Attack Infected Cells
• Macrophages phagocytize invading microbes
and present parts of the microbe (antigens) to
the T cell lymphocytes.
• The appropriate T cell is turned on or
stimulated.
• The activated T cell rapidly multiplies into a
large homogenous group (clone) of cytotoxic
T cells (Tc cells).
• Attack organisms directly, Also kill infected
cells
Cytotoxic T cells (Tc cells)
• also known as TC, cytotoxic T lymphocyte,
CTL, T-killer cell, cytolytic T cell, CD8+ T-
cell or killer T cell
• destroy virally infected cells and tumor cells,
and are also implicated in transplant rejection.
• These cells are also known as CD8+ T cells,
(trans-membrane glycoprotein that serves as a
co-receptor for the T cell receptor (TCR). since
they express the CD8 glycoprotein at their
surface.
Helper T cells, (Th cells)
• "middlemen" of the adaptive immune system.
• Once activated, they divide rapidly and secrete
small proteins called cytokines that regulate or
"help" the immune response.
• help activate B cells to secrete antibodies and
macrophages to destroy ingested microbes, also
help activate cytotoxic T cells to kill infected
target cells.
• (also called CD4+ T cells) are a target of HIV
infection; the virus infects the cell by using the
CD4 protein to gain entry.
• The loss of Th cells as a result of HIV infection
leads to the symptoms of AIDS.
Memory T cells
• are a subset of antigen-specific T cells that
persist long-term after an infection has
resolved.
• They quickly expand to large numbers of
effector T cells upon re-exposure to their
cognate antigen, thus providing the immune
system with "memory" against past infections.
• Memory cells may be either CD4+ or CD8+.
Regulatory T cells (Treg cells)
• known as suppressor T cells, are crucial for the
maintenance of immunological tolerance.
• Their major role is to shut down T cell mediated
immunity towards the end of an immune
reaction and to suppress auto-reactive T cells
that escaped the process of negative selection in
the thymus (prevent autoimmune disease).
• Two major classes of regulatory T cells have been
described, including the naturally occurring Treg
cells and the adaptive Treg cells.
Conti…
• Treg cells (also known as CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg
cells) arise in the thymus.
• adaptive Treg cells (also known as Tr1 cells or
Th3 cells) may originate during a normal immune
response.
• Naturally occurring Treg cells can be
distinguished from other T cells by the presence
of an intracellular molecule called FoxP3.
• Mutations of the FOXP3 gene can prevent
regulatory T cell development, causing the fatal
autoimmune disease IPEX
Natural Killer T cells''' (NKT cells)
• that bridges the adaptive immune system with the
innate immune system.
• Unlike conventional T cells that recognize peptide
antigen presented by major histocompatibility
complex (MHC) molecules,
• NKT cells recognize glycolipid antigen presented by
a molecule called CD1d.
• Once activated, these cells can perform functions
as both Th and Tc cells
cytokine production + release of cell killing molecules.
