Immune Response and Lymphoid

Organs
 Immune System
- System of cells that has the ability to
distinguish “self” from “non-self”.
Cells of the Immune System
• Distributed throughout the body
• Arranged in small spherical nodules (lymphoid
nodules)
• Organized in larger lymphoid organs (lymph
nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow)
Lymphoid nodules are found:
o Mucosa of the digestive system
o tonsils,
o Peyer’s patches
o Appendix
o Respiratory system
o Reproductive system
o Urinary system (MALT) – mucosa-associated
lymphoid tissue
Antigen
• Non-self
• Elicit immune response
• Foreign material
• Soluble molecules such as CHON,
polysaccharides, & nucleoproteins
• Molecules belonging to bacteria, protozoa,
tumor cells, or virus-infected cells.
• Has antigenic determinants or epitopes
Antibody
• a.k.a. Immunoglobulin
• Glycoprotein in nature
• Secreted by Plasma cells
• IgM, IgA, IgG, IgE, & IgG
q Chains
q Heavy chains (H) – 2 identical
q Light chains (L) – 2 identical
q Fragments
q Antibody Binding Fragment (Fab)
q Cystallizable Fragment (Fc)
q Regions
q Variable Region (V)
q Constant Region (C)
q Domains (Ig domains)
q VL
q CL
q VH
q CH1
q CH2
q CH3
Cytokines
• Molecule regulator for immune cells functions
• 8 to 80 kDa
• Influence by cellular and humoral immune response
• Acts on cells that have receptor for them
• Produced by lymphocytes, macrophages & other
leukocytes.
• Chemotaxins or chemokines – cytokines that induce
diapedesis of leukocytes & migration to inflammed
sites.
 Cells of the Immune System
• Cells involved
– Lymphocytes,
– Plasma cells
– Mast cells
– Neutrophils
– Eosinophils
– APC (Antigen Presenting Cells)
• Macrophage
• Dendritic Cells
• Lympocytes
 Lymphocytes

Classified as
• B lymphocytes
• T lymphocytes
• Natural Killer Cells
 B and T lymphocytes

B Lymphocytes
• Surface Marker
- Monomeric Igm
• Plasma Cell
• Memory B Cell
T Lymphocytes
• 65-75% circulating lymphocytes
• TCR (T cell receptor)
• Recognize only epitopes
 T cells subpopulation
• Helper Cells
- CD4
- promote B cell differentiation
- activate macrophages
• Cytotoxic T cells
- CD8
- perforins
- apoptosis
• Regulatory T cells
- CD24 and CD25
- Immune tolerance
 Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) &
Antigen Presentation
MHC
- complex of choromosomal loci encoding
several proteins known as class I and class II
MHC molecules.
MHC I
- nucleated
MHC II
- APCs
 Antigen Presenting Cells

• Class II MHC molecules

• Macrophage, dedritic cells, B cells, langerhans cells
• Recognized by helper cells
 Types of Immune Response

• Two Basic Types

Ø Innate response
Ø Adaptive response
 Lymphoid Tissue
• Connective tissue rich with lymphocytes
• H&E-stained sections (dark blue)
• Free cells, rich network of reticular fibers of
type III collagen supporting the cells.
Lymphoid Nodules
Ø lymphocytes in spherical masses, B Lymphocytes
Ø lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils
Ø Free lymphoid nodules are present in connective
tissue of mucosal linings, where together with free
lymphocytes, they constitute the MALT (mucosa-
associated lymphoid tissue)
Thymus
Ø Bilateral organ located in mediastinum, peak
development during youth.
Ø central or primary lymphoid organ
Ø T lymphocytes
Ø precursor is lymphoblast originated from bone
marrow
Ø medulla and cortex
Epithelial reticular cells extend long processes bound together by
desmosomes to make the framework for the lymphocytes. The epithelial
reticular cells also secrete polypeptide factors that promote T cell
maturation.
Role of Thymus in T Cell Maturation
Central self-tolerance induction
Naïve T lymphoblast
- T cell receptor, CD4 or CD8
Progenitor arise from fetal liver, or bone marrow & migrate to
the thymus.
 Mucosa-
Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT)

Ø Digestive, respiratory, genitourinary tracts are common sites

Ø One of the largest organs.
- tonsils (according to location; palatine, pharyngeal, lingual
tonsils) appendix, Peyer’s patches in the ileum.
Lymph Nodes
Most common cells of lymph nodes are
lymphocytes, macrophages, & other APC’s,
plasma cells, & reticular cells; follicular
dendritic cells

The different arrangement of the cells and of

the reticular fiber stroma supporting the cells
creates a cortex, a medulla, and an
intervening paracortex
Cortex
- Situated under capsule
- Many reticular cells, macrophages, APCs &
lymphocytes.
- Lymph nodules, w/ or w/out germinal centers,
formed mainly of B lymphocytes, embedded w/in
the diffuse population of other cells.
- Subcapsular sinuses
- Corticular sinuses
Paracortex
- Do not have precise boundaries.
- Distinguishable due to lack of B cell lymphoid
nodules.
- Venules in the paracortex comprise an important
entry points for lymphocytes moving from blood into
lymph nodes.
- Lymph node medulla components:
- Medullary cords
- Medullary sinuses
 Spleen
q largest single accumulation of lymphoid
tissue in the body and only one involved in
blood filtration
q important organ in defense against blood-
borne pathogens.
Splenic Pulp
Two components:
- white pulp
consist of lymphoid nodules & periarteriolar
lymphoid sheathes
- Red pulp
blood filled sinusoids and splenic cords (Bilroth)