Lymphatic System

Rubie Maranan Causaren

Biological Sciences Department, College of Science and Computer Studies
De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Dasmariñas City
The Lymphoid System
§ “self” from “nonself”
§ Highly specific system
• Antigensà activation of immune system
• Neutralization and destruction of:
§ Antigens
§ Viruses
§ Bacteria
§ Parasites
§ Virus infected cells
§ Cells of transplanted organs
§ Cancer cells
Functions
§ lymph collection and transport
Functions
§ Transport of fats in the form of
lipoproteins
Functions
§ Production, maintenance,
and distribution of
lymphocytes
Functions
Defense
Components
Lymphatic Vessels
lymphatic capillaries à lymphatic vessels
à lymphatic ductsà subclavian veins
Edema
Lymphoid tissues and organs

§ Primary (central) lymphoid organ

ú Bone marrow and thymus
ú Lymphocyte production
§ Secondary (peripheral) lymphoid organs
ú Spleen, lymph nodes, MALT
ú Where lymphocytes and antigens interact to initiate
an immune response
Lymphoid tissues
and organs
1o lymphoid organ

Bone marrow
§ Medullary cavities of bones
• types: RBM and YBM
• Functions:
• Hemopoiesis
• Phagocytosis of cellular
debris/or degenerating
cells
• Storage and recycling of Fe
• Production of antibodies (B
cells à plasma cells)
1o lymphoid tissues

Thymus
§ 1st lymphoid organ to
develop:
§ bilobed
§ At birth: pinkish-gray in
color and weighs 10-15 g,
increasing to 30-40 g
(maximum) by puberty;
§ thereafter, it assumes a
yellowish color because
of extensive fatty
infiltration;
§ atrophies with age
ú Fatty infiltration
ú Lymphocyte depletion
Functions of the Thymus
§ “thymic education” of thymocytes
ú 1-3% of T cells survive their education
ú “self” from “nonself”
§ Proliferation of clones of mature naïve T cells
to supply the circulating lymphocyte pool
and peripheral tissues
§ Secretion of thymosin and other soluble
factors which regulate T cell maturation,
proliferation and function within the thymus
and peripheral tissues
“Learning in the thymus university”

•CD4+, CD8+
•TCR genes

Self MHC

CD4-,
CD8-

Self MHC +
autoantigens

Self MHC +
autoantigens
2o lymphoid organ

Lymph nodes

§ “in-line biological filters”

ú Defense: microorganisms
and spread of tumor cells
§ Named after location
• Lymphocytes congregate in cortex
when fighting off a pathogen
• Macrophages concentrated in
medulla - cleanse lymph

In the medulla:
1- macrophages
2- reticular cells
 Functions of Lymph Nodes
§ Biological filters of
lymph
ú Lymph
  Whole Antigens
  Antigens presented by
APCs
  Portions of partially
destroyed microorganisms
§ Site of
ú lymphocyte proliferation
(B cells in germinal
centers)
ú Transformation of B cells
to plasma cells
2o lymphoid organ

Spleen
§ Largest lymphoid organ
§ Only lymphoid organ that intervenes
with the circulation
Figure 14—33. Scanning electron micrograph of the red pulp of the spleen showing sinusoids, red pulp cords,
and macrophages (M). Note the multiple fenestrations in the endothelial cells of the sinusoids. x1600.
(Reproduced, with permission, from Miyoshi M, Fujita T: Stereo-fine structure of the splenic red pulp. A
combined scanning and transmission electron microscope study on dog and rat spleen.
2o lymphoid organ

Spleen
Main functions:

• phagocytosis of bacteria and worn-out

RBCs and platelets
• function in immunity: acts as the site
of B cell proliferation into plasma cells
thus acting as the major site of
antibody production
• stores and releases blood in times of
demand, such as during hemorrhage
• during fetal development participates
in blood cell formation
Figure 14—35. Photomicrograph of five spleen macrophages in
active phagocytosis of erythrocytes.
2o lymphoid organ

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

• protection against
bacteria and
other pathogens

Palatine tonsils
Peyer’s patches of small intestine

Lymphoid aggregations in the

large intestine and appendix
§ tonsillolith
Nonspecific Defenses
Barriers to entry
§ ‘mechanical barriers’
§ Skin and mucous membranes including the
cilia lining the URT
§ Normal organ flora
§ Antimicrobial molecules
ú Oil from sebaceous gland
ú Lysozymes secreted by mucous membranes
ú Stomach’s acidic pH
Nonspecific Defenses
Inflammatory responses, phagocytes

-4 outward signs: redness, heat, swelling, pain

Fever
- inhibits growth of some
microorganisms
- Promotes accelerated tissue
repair
- Facilitates phagocytosis of
pathogens
- Stimulates immune cells to
divide rapidly
- Increases production of viral-
fighting interferons
Nonspecific Defenses
NK cells
Nonspecific Defenses
Protective proteins
Action of the
§ ‘complement’ Complement System
Against a bacterium
Nonspecific Defenses
Protective proteins
§ interferons
Specific Defenses
Requirements:
1. The immune system must recognize an
antigen.
ú Antigen
  Foreign antigens
  Self-antigens
2. The immune system can respond to an
antigen.
3. The immune system can remember an
antigen.
* B and T cells
Specific Defenses

B cell
T cell

B cells and T cells

ú Have antigen receptors
ú Each lymphocyte has receptor à one antigen type
ú Diversification occurs during maturation that there
are specific B and/or T cells for any possible antigen
people are likely to encounter during a lifetime.
B cells and Antibody-
Mediated Immunity
-humoral immunity

Clonal Selection
Model as it Applies
to B Cells

35
B cells and Antibody-Mediated Immunity
§ Clonal selection theory:
ú The antigen selects which lymphocyte will
  Undergo clonal expansion, and
  Produce more lymphocytes
ú If the same antigen enters the system again
  Memory B cells quickly divide
  Give rise to more lymphocytes capable of quickly
producing antibodies

36
Active vs. passive immunity

Active Passive
§ Person produces own Abs § Person is given prepared
or thru immunization antibodies
§ Long-lived § Short-lived
§ Breastfeeding
§ Artificial passive immunity
is used in the emergency
treatment of rabies,
measles, tetanus,
diphtheria, botulism,
hepatitis A, and snakebites.
T Cells

§ Requirements for T cell antigen recognition:

ú Antigen must be presented by an antigen-
presenting cell (APC)
ú Antigen is first linked to a major
histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein in the
plasma membrane
ú Cytokines - signaling chemicals that stimulate
various immune cells

40
Clonal Selection Model
as it Applies to T cells

41
Cell-mediated
Immunity

-cytotoxic T cell

42
Types of T Cells
§ Cytotoxic T Cells
ú Destroy antigen-bearing cells
ú Contain perforins and granzymes
§ Helper T Cells
§ Regulate immunity by secreting cytokines
§ Memory T Cells
ú ‘Remember’ and ready to react to antigens in
the future

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-end-
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