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1 Antigens and Antibodies
1 Antigens and Antibodies
ANTIGEN
• Antibody generator/generation
a. Antibody (Ab)
• Substance with the ability to bind w/
b. T cell antigen receptor
IMMUNOGEN
• Substance that can induce an immune response
a. Formation of Ab
b. Sensitized T cells in immunocompetent host
All immunogens are antigens but not all antigens are immunogens.
Prepared by: Nhoelyn E. Burcao, RMT
Structure and Biologic Properties of Antigens
CHARACTERISTICS:
Epitope –
• Specific reactivity
antigenic
✓Ability of Ag to react specifically w/ Ab or cells it provoked determinant
• Immunogenicity
✓Ability to provoke an immune response by stimulating the
production of Ab, proliferation of specific T cells, or both
HAPTEN
• Simple antigens, no immunogenicity but has reactivity
• 2 kinds Simple/Nonprecipitating Complex/ Precipitating
✓ Can combine w/ Ab ✓ Can combine w/Ab
✓ Cannot produce precipitates ✓ Produces precipitates
The greater the molecular weight = the greater the immune response
The more complex an Ag = The greater is its effectiveness
Prepared by: Nhoelyn E. Burcao, RMT
Factors Affecting Immunogenicity
4. Route, dosage and timing
• Intravenous and intraperitoneal routes: effective
• Intradermal route: stronger stimulus as compared to subcutaneous & intramuscular
route
• Dose response may be partially dependent on the nature of immunogen processing
✓ the smaller the dose, less likely a response
5. Degradability
• Sufficient Ag must be present to induce an immune response
• In vaccination: adequate dose of vaccine at appropriate intervals must be
administered
• A.K.A. Immunoglobulins
• Glycoproteins produced in response to antigenic stimulation that is
capable of specified interaction with provoking immunogen
• General functions:
✓Neutralize toxic substances
✓Facilitate phagocytosis and kill microbes
✓Combine w/ antigens of cellular surface and cause
destruction of these cells either extravascularly or
intravascularly
Normally no light chain- light chain binding (L-L): Bence Jones Proteins
Prepared by: Nhoelyn E. Burcao, RMT
Typical Antibody Structure
• Variable region
• Hypervariable loops/
complementary-determining
regions (CDR)
Heavy
• First 110-120 amino acids chain
• Constant region
• Determines the class and
subclass of the Ig
• Remaining amino acids
Prepared by: Nhoelyn E. Burcao, RMT Clinical Immunology & Serology by Stevens
Immunoglobulin(Ig) Classes
Immunoglobulin (Ig) G
• Present at the highest concentration in plasma
• Produced during secondary immune response
• It mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)
• Functions:
✓Providing immunity for the newborn
✓Fixing complement
✓Opsonization
✓Neutralizing toxins and viruses
✓Agglutination
✓Precipitation (more efficient)
Immunoglobulin (Ig) M
• Pentameric: with 5 basic subunits
• Held together by J (joining) chain
• First to appear in the B cells
• Surface receptor in B cells
• Functions:
✓Complement fixation (most efficient)
✓Agglutination
✓Opsonization
✓Toxin neutralization
Prepared by: Nhoelyn E. Burcao, RMT
Immunoglobulin(Ig) Classes
Immunoglobulin (Ig) A
• Found in the breastmilk
• IgA1 (Serum IgA) and IgA2 (Secretory IgA)
• Secretory component
✓Protects the IgA from degradation of enzymes
✓Prevents attachment of pathogens to mucosal surfaces
✓Produced by epithelial cells near IgA-producing plasma cells
• Functions:
✓Aggregates of this antibody can activate the antibody-independent complement
pathway
✓Respiratory burst and degranulation of neutrophils, macrophages and
monocytes
Secretory IgA
✓Patrol mucosal surfaces and act as a first line of defense.
✓It plays an important role in neutralizing toxins produced by microorganisms
✓Helps to prevent bacterial adherence to mucosal surfaces.
• Function:
✓Antibody for immunoregulation
PRODUCTION OF ANTIBODIES
• Induced when lymphocyte comes into contact with foreign
antigenic substance that binds to its receptor
THEORIES
• Template theory
✓ Instructional hypothesis
➢ By Linus Pauling (1940s)
✓ A flexible antibody molecule is acted on by the antigen to form a
COMPLEMENTARY binding site
✓ Antigens act like templates that direct the folding of a nascent antibody chain
THEORIES
• Clonal Selection Theory
✓ Fundamental basis of
lymphocyte activation in which
Ag selectively stimulates only
those cells which express
receptors for it to divide and
differentiate
✓ Each lymphocyte produces
one type of immunoglobulin
only and the Ag selects and
stimulates cells carrying that
immunoglobulin type
Clonal Expansion