Innate Immunity &

Ocular Barrier Defense

Dr. Wai Mar Linn

M.B.,B.S, DTM&H , MSc
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lecture , the student must be able to
describe the followings
• Explain the components of the immune system .
• Briefly describe the first line of defense mechanism.
• Explain the defense mechanism of eye.
• Describe the cellular components of innate immune
system .
• Describe the humoral components of innate immune
system.
Immunology

Immunology is the study of the ways in which the body defends

itself from infectious agent and other foreign substances in its
environment.
The main function of the immune system is to prevent or limit
infections by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
parasites, such as protozoa and worms.
Mechanisms for
disease
Components of the Immune System

1st line of defense

2nd line of defense
3rd line of defense
1st line of defense : Intact skin , mucosa & mucous membrane,
secretions, normal flora
2nd line of defense : Innate Immune system
3rd line of defense : Adaptive immune system
PREVENTION OF ENTRY

(1 ST LINE OF DEFENSE )
 Physical and Chemical Barrier

• First line of host defense against pathogens

• Physical or chemical barriers present in most animals that act

NONSPECIFICALLY to inhibit invasion by pathogens
Physical and Chemical Defenses—The Skin and Mucosal Tissues

The structural integrity of tissue surfaces—barrier to penetration by

microbes.

Intact surfaces prevent potential pathogens from adhering to surfaces

Growing at these sites such that they do not travel elsewhere in the
Body—COLONIZATION.

Damaged surfaces—abraded skin are often readily colonized promoting

invasion of this and other tissues
The Skin
• Unbroken skin is impermeable
to most infectious agents

• Keratin resistant to most

bacterial enzymes & toxins

• Sebaceous glands secrete

fatty acids and lactic acid
which lower the skin pH
(pH 4-6)

• The skin has a low moisture

content

• Skin prevent potential

pathogens from colonizing
 Mucus &Mucosal membranes
• Mucosa produces a variety of protective chemicals

• Mucus secreted by these cells prevent the microbes from contact with the
cells

• Mucus traps bacteria & moves them away from epithelial surface
 Mucus &Mucosal membranes
• Ciliated epithelial cells lining the trachea remove microbes inhaled
through the nose and mouth.
• Cilia push microbes upwards until they are caught in oral secretions
and expectorated or swallowed. (Coughing/Sneezing)
Normal Flora of the Gastrointestinal Tract
 Defense mechanism in the gastro-intestinal tract
(GIT)
• Gastric acid is very acidic & contain proteolytic enzymes.
•The pH of the stomach is 2.0 which is too low for most pathogens to survive.

• Microbes have a difficult time adapting to abrupt changes in pH

as they might encounter as they pass through the GI tract

• Pathogens must compete with the normal flora of small and large intestines.

•The large intestines normally contain approx 1010 bacteria

per gram of content—establishment of pathogens is difficult.

•The pathogen must compete in cellular binding site and in getting essential
nutrition.
Defense mechanism of Eye

• Defences of the eye include tears, conjunctiva, and blinking

reflex.

• Eyelids and eye lashes protect mechanically

• Blinking reflex spread tear film and clear particulate material.

• Tears have IgA and lysozymes which have antibacterial

activity.

• Lachrymation : washing processes

Factors that limit entry of microorganisms into the body
Factor Mode of Action
Keratin layer of intact skin Acts as mechanical barrier

Lysozyme in tears and other secretions Degrades peptidoglycan in bacteria cell wall

Respiratory cilia Elevate mucus-containing trapped organisms

Low pH in stomach and vagina; fatty acids

Retards growth of microbes
in skin

Occupy receptors, which prevents

Normal flora of throat, colon, and vagina
colonization by pathogens
Innate Immune System
• If microorganisms breach the 1st line of defense and enter the
body, then the innate arm of the immune system (second line of
defense) is available to destroy the invaders.
• Innate arm performs two major functions: killing invading
microbes and activating adaptive immune processes (3rd line of
defence)
• They can function immediately upon entry of the
microorganisms.
CELLULAR COMPONENT OF INNATE IMMUNE
SYSTEM : GRANULOCYTES
: MONOCYTES/MACROPHAGES
: NATURAL KILLER CELLS (NK)
 Granulocytes
• Granulocytes have prominent cytoplasmic granules containing
reactive substances that kill microorganisms and stimulate other
divisions of the immune response by activating inflammation.
• Granulocytes consist of
- Neutrophils
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
 Neutrophils

• Also know as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)

• Present in blood stream.
• Possess multilobed nucleus and small pink granules.
 Neutrophils

• Induced by bacterial infections.

• Mature , short lived cells.(2-5 Days)
• Able to change shape and move towards the stimulus
(chemotaxis)
• Neutrophils are rapidly recruited to sites of inflammation.
• Engulf and kill pathogens by phagocytosis.
 Pathogen

PHAGOCYTIC
CELL

Vacuole
Lysosome
containing
enzymes
Phagocytosis
 Eosinophils
• Present in blood stream
• Possess bi lobed nucleus and large pink granules.
• Important for defences against helminth worms and other
intestinal parasites.
• Also play a role in allergies (hypersensitivity reactions) and
asthma.
 Basophils
• Present in blood stream.
• Possess bi lobed nucleus and large blue granules.
• Non phagocytic.
• Release pharmacologically active substances during allergic
response.
• Release histamines and other mediators of inflammation.
 Monocytes/Macrophages

• Relatively long-lived and distributed throughout the whole body.

• Possess horse shoe shaped nucleus.

 Monocytes/Macrophages

• Macrophages: derived from monocytes

• Monocytes : circulating in the blood

• Fixed tissue Macrophages: Kupffer cells (liver) , Alveolar

(lungs), Microglial (brain), Osteoclasts (bone)

Monocyte vs Macrophage
 Monocytes/Macrophages

• Kill pathogens by phagocytosis (the process of capturing,

engulfing, and killing microorganisms).

• Ingest cellular debris, foreign material, bacteria, fungi

• Express various receptors to recognize different pathogens, e.g.

PRR, Scavenger receptor,….etc.

• Trigger inflammation and Antigen presentation to initiate

adaptive immune response.

PRP : Pattern Recognition Receptor

Mechanism of Phagocytosis

Figure 21.2
 Mast Cells
• Mast cells are resident in all connective tissues.
• They possess granules that contain a number of preformed
inflammatory mediators, including histamine and tumor necrosis
factor (TNF)-a.
• Together with IgE, they are involved in type I hypersensitivity
reactions.
 Dendritic cells

• Professional APCs (Antigen Presenting Cells)

• Found in epithelial and tissues.

• Possess long cytoplasmic arms.

• Function : antigen capture, transport and presentation.

Dendritic Cells

http:www.coleypharma.com
 Natural Killer Cells (NK)

• Small population of large granular lymphocytes

• Not phagocytic: attack is by release of perforins that

perforate the target cell plasma membrane.

• Targets: tumor cells, virally infected cells

• Killing activity is enhanced by interferon (IFN)

• Release chemicals that enhance the inflammatory response