Immune system

Immune system comprised of

Organs Distinguish self and non self cells
Aggregated lymphatic tissue molecules
Cell Neutralize foreign molecules
(Bacteria, viruses and parasites)
Cells of immune system
Destroy infected cells and cancer
Migratory cells (Lymphocytes) cells
Fixed cells or stromal cells (Mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells)
Lymphocytes
B lymphocytes
 Bone marrow dependent/ Bursa Fabricious in poultry
Responsible for humoral immune response (Ab formed by plasma cells involved)
T lymphocytes
Thymus dependent
Cell mediated immune response (lymphocyte involved through cytokines)
NK cells
No antigen receptor present Autoimmune disease is the
Eliminate the virus infected or tumor cell reaction of immune system
against normal tissue or
The identification of B and T lymphocytes with H & E is not possible. molecules
Stromal cells
 Fixed cells
 Form supportive mesh work for lymphocytes
Stromal cell types
 Reticular cells
 Fibroblast like structure
Stellate appearance
 Form a reticulum in all lymphatic tissue except in thymus and cloacal bursa.
 Synthesize reticular fibers.
 Epithelial reticular cells
 From reticulum and support lymphocyte and macrophages in thymus and cloacal bursa.
 Do not produce reticular fibers
Antigen presenting cells FDC
Dendritic Cells
Numerous long cytoplasmic process
After attachment with antigen become antigen presenting cell.
Includes interstitial (heart, kidney, gut and lung), interdigitating dendrititic cell (lymphatic tissue),
veiled cell (Lymph or blood), and intraepridermal macrophage (Langarhans cells)
Follicular Dendritic cell (induce humoral immune response)
Interdigitating Dendritic cells (cellular immune response)
Macrophages
B cells
 Organization of lymphatic tissue

Types of lymphatic tissue

 Diffuse lymphatic tissue
 Organized lymphatic tissue
Diffuse lymphatic tissue
 Comprised of small lymphocytes, lymphoblast and macrophages
 Found scattered throughout LCT of gut, respiratory tract, urogenital system, skin.
Lymphatic nodules
 Primary lymphatic nodule
 Secondary lymphatic nodules
Primary lymphatic nodule
 Stromal network of CT & immature follicular dendritic cells
 Tightly packed lymphocytes distributed in stromal network
 Do not contain germinal centre
Secondary lymphatic nodule
 Germinal centre of central light zone and adjacent dark zone present
 Light zone populated by B lymphocyte
 Dark zone populated by B-cell lymphoblast engaged in high mitotic activity.
 Primary lymphoid organs

Bone marrow (mammals)

Cloacal bursa (Birds)
Thymus (mammals and birds)
Thymus
 Originates as outgrowth from epithelium (endoderm) of third pharyngeal pouch
 Referred as lymphoepithelial organ
 Help in development of T cells.
 It does not filters lymph
Histology
 Composed of right and left lobe
 Surrounded by CT capsule continuous with septa
 Septa divided the lobes into partially separated lobules
 Medulla arises from the central stalk in the lobe i.e. surrounded by cortex
Cortex
 Comprised of epithelial reticulum and large population of T lymphocytes (Thymocytes)
 Epithelial reticular cells have long branching cytoplasmic processes
 Epithelial reticular cells form stromal network
 Single layer of flattened epithelial cells form continuous lining around periphery of lobule and around the
perivascular space
 Medium sized lymphocyte and lymphoblast present in reticular meshwork
 These lymphocytes undergo mitotic division that differentiate into deeper cortex.
 Thymic cortex stains darker due to presence of lymphocytes.
Medulla
 Structure of epithelial reticular cells in medulla is same as in cortex but larger in size
 Contain much mitochondria, RER and golgi complex.
 Epithelial reticular cells form Thymic or Hassall’s corpuscles.
 Hassall’s corpuscle consist of several calcified or degenerated large central cells surrounded by flat
keratinized cells in concentric arrangement.
 Interdigitating dendritic cells also present in medulla.
 Small lymphocytes and macrophages present in epithelial reticular meshwork.
Thymus in adult stage
 Thymus is particularly active in young animals
 Normal involution occurs at sexual maturity
 During involution depletion of lymphocytes, enlargement of epithelial reticular cells and
deposition of adipose tissue occur.
 In adult animals thymus consist of narrow cords of lymphocytes in which epithelial reticular
cells predominates and surrounded by adipose tissue.
Secretions of thymus
 Produces proteins acting as growth factors
 These factors helps in maturation and differentiation of T lymphocytes
 The hormones released are Thymosin- α, Thymulin, Thymopoietin, Thymus humoral factor.
 Secondary lymphoid organs

Secondary lymphatic tissue and organs are situated at entry points of antigens.
The tissue is well populated with antigen presenting cells to produce immune response.
Secondary lymphatic tissue is more exposed to antigens

Blood or lymph (either free or through dendritic cells)

Antigens body secondary lymphatic tissue

Secondary lymphatic tissue associated with mucosa is called MALT (mucosa associated lymphatic tissue)
Secondary lymphoid organs are spleen, lymph node and hemal nodes.

Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)

 Compose of solitary lymphatic nodules or aggregates of nodules.
 Present in sub epithelial tissues of most mucous membrane.
 Present mostly in digestive, respiratory system and urogenital tract.
Tonsils
 Aggregated lymphatic nodules in pharynx called tonsils.
 Located at sites to encounter antigen.
 Covered by stratified squamous (oropharynx) and psudostratified columnar epithelium
(nasopharynx).
 Tonsillar surface may be smooth or having surface invaginations (tonsillar fossulae).
 The fossulae continues as deep forming crypts.
 Epithelium infiltrated with lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils.
 Beneath epithelium lymphatic nodule present surrounded by diffuse lymphatic tissue.
 Lymphatic nodules usually have germinal center and cap (mantel) of small lymphocytes.
 The tonsils are surrounded by CT capsule which can be removed easily.
 The removal of tonsils is called eneucleation of tonsil.
Bronchus associated lymphatic tissue (BALT)
 Clusters of lymphocytes present in walls of bronchi and bronchioles
 Both B and T lymphocytes present
Gut associated lymphatic tissue (GALT)
 Includes IEL, Plasma cells, sub epithelial lymphocytes, Solitary and aggregated lymphatic
nodules.
 Aggregated lymphatic nodules called payer’s patches present in intestine.
Lymph Node
 Located on the way of extensive drainage of lymphatic vessels
 They are bean shaped from millimeters to several centimeters in size
 They are dense and encapsulated organs
 Filters antigens before entry to blood.
 It is the only organs supplied with both afferent and efferent vessels.
 Hilus is slight indentation in the lymph node where blood and lymph vessels enter or leave in LN.
Histology
 Lymph node is surrounded by dense irregular CT called capsule
 In ruminant smooth muscle may be present in capsule
 Trabeculae extend from capsule extending into cortex and medulla.
 Trabeculae provide support and carry blood vessels and nerves surrounded by sinuses
 The stroma consist of reticular cells and fibers.
 Reticular meshwork contains lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells.
Lymph vessels and Sinuses
 Afferent lymph vessels penetrates capsule at various sites that opens into subcapsular sinuses
 Cortical sinuses arises from subcapsular sinuses and extends to medullary sinuses
 Sinuses form anastomosing network converging to hilus and open into efferent vessels.
 Sinuses are formed by reticular cells forming meshwork.
 Lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells present in sinuses lumen
 Reticular cells form a baffle to slow lymph flow and provide maximum time for macrophages on
antigens
 Lymph also escapes from sinuses lumen to parenchyma through gaps.
Cortex
 Cortex divided into outer and deep cortex
 Deep cortex also called paracortex
 Outer cortex consist of primary and secondary lymphatic nodules
 Diffuse lymphatic tissue present between lymphatic nodules
 Deep cortex composed of diffuse lymphatic tissue
 Deep cortex mainly comprised of T lymphocytes so called T-cell area or thymus dependent zone.
Medulla
 Less organized than cortex
 Medullary cords comprised of lymphatic tissue (mostly T lymphocytes) present
 Medullary cords separated from each other through network of sinuses or trabeculae.
 Medullary cords have plasma cells, lymphocytes and macrophages
Functions of Lymph node
 Filtration of lymph
 Phagocytosis
 Production of antibodies
Spleen
 Major secondary lymphatic organ
 Filters blood and provide immune response against blood borne antigens
 Involved in lymphopoiesis in adults and erythropoiesis in fetal stage
 Graveyard of RBC
 No distinct cortex and medulla present
Histology
 Spleen is covered by thick CT called capsule invested by peritoneum (Serosa)
 Capsule consist of two layers i.e. dense irregular CT and smooth muscles
 The total thickness of capsule and smooth muscle varies with species
 Trabeculae extends from capsule and hilus
 Trabeculae comprised of collagen, elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells
 Trabeculae contains blood vessels, veins, lymph vessels and verves.
 The parenchyma consist of red and white pulp
 Red pulp stores RBC and White pulp is rich in lymphocytes and actively involved in immune
response
Red pulp
 Mostly splenic parenchyma is red pulp
 Contains RBC in reticular network
 Red pulp consist of venous sinuses or venules and splenic cords
 Mammalian spleen has two types of red pulp depending on postcapillary vessels (sinusal and non
sinusal)
 Dogs have typical venous sinuses
Splenic sinuses
 Wide vascular channels lined with longitudinally oriented endothelial cells (contains
microfilaments)
 Gaps present in sinuses are created upon contraction of microfilaments
 Erythrocytes migrates from splenic cords into sinus lumen
 The splenic cords composed of reticular fibers ensheathed by reticular cells, RBC, macrophages,
lymphocytes, plasma cells
White pulp
 White pulp consist of lymphatic tissue distributed throughout spleen
 The lymphatic tissue present in form of splenic nodules, diffuse lymphatic tissue (periarterial
lymphatic sheath or PALS)
 Nodules may or may not have germinal centers
 PALS organized along artery of white pulp
 T cells present adjacent to tunica media of artery
 Peripheral region of artery contains mixtures of T and B cells, macrophages and dendritic cells
 White pulp consist of reticular cells and reticular fibers forming network
 The network is engorged with lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells.
Marginal zone
At periphery of white pulp several concentric layers of reticular network containing macrophages, B
lymphocytes present where terminal capillaries opens into sinuses. This area is called marginal zone.
Best place for destroying antigen and plasma suspended particles.
Blood vessels: (1) Trabecular artery (2) Artery of white pulp (3) Nodular artery (4) Penicellus (5) Pulp
arteriole (6) Sheathed capillaries (7) Terminal capillaries that opens into sinuses