1

Innate immunity
Utilises pre-formed constituents, i.e. no lag phase
No specificity
No memory, no alteration in kinetics or quality of
response on second encounter
Preceded adaptive immunity in evolution. Possessed
by all animal species
Adaptive immunity
Not present in pre-vertebrates
More rapid response on second and subsequent encounter
with antigen
Specificity of response
Affinity maturation
Memory cells involved (lymphocytes)
Antibodies made by B lymphocytes and plasma cells
T lymphocytes control antibody responses
Cells and anatomy of the
immune system
Dr. Peter Sheldon
2
Neutrophil (polymorph)
Multilobednucleus.
Commonest leucocyte (2500-7500/ mm
3
of blood).
A short-lived phagocytic cell whose granules
contain numerous bactericidal substances.
Avidly phagocytosesparticles opsonised by
IgG or complement and functions as effector cell
of humoral immunity.
Eosinophil
A leucocyte whose large refractile granules contain
a number of highly basic or cationic proteins,
possibly important in killing larger parasites
including worms.
Bind avidly to IgE-coated particles (i.e. helminthic
parasites).
Abundant at sites of allergic reactions. Nos rise in
response to Il-3, and Il-5 (from T
H
2 cells).
Attracted by eotaxin, a chemokine released by
endothelium in proximity to the parasite.
Basophil
A leucocyte with large basophilic granules.
Granules contain heparin, histamine and other
vasoactiveamines.
Granules released at sites of inflammation and in
immediate hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions.
Express high affinity receptors for IgE (bind IgE).
Interaction of bound IgE with antigen causes
release of basophil granules.
Monocyte
The largest nucleated cell of the blood (16-20m
diameter), developing into a macrophage when it
migrates into the tissues.
Macrophage (A professional antigen presenting cell)
The principal resident phagocyte of the tissues.
Strongly phagocytic of particles and microbes.
Has receptors for Ig and complement.
CNS microglia
Liver Kupffer cells
Lungs alveolar macrophages
Bone osteoclasts
3
B lymphocyte
A bone marrow- (or in birds, bursa-) derived
lymphocyte, the precursor of antibody-forming
cells. In fetal life, the liver may play the role of
bursa.
Plasma cell
The B lymphocyte in its high-rate antibody
secreting state. Rarely seen in the blood, but found
in spleen, lymph nodes etc., whenever antibody is
being made.
T lymphocyte (T cell)
A thymus-derived (or processed) lymphocyte.
1500 - 4000/ mm
3
blood
6-15m diameter (red blood cell 7.2m diam.)
Small T lymphocytes scanty cytoplasm
Large activated lymphocytes more cytoplasm
2 main subdivisions CD8
+
(cytotoxic T cells)
- CD4
+
(helper T cells)
Sites of the
principal
lymphoid tissues
within the human
body.
Primary lymphoid
organs
Secondary lymphoid
organs
4
Human lymphoid organs
Primary lymphoid
organs
Secondary lymphoid
organs
Lymphoid tissues
Immune system compartmentalisedinto organs/ tissues.
Funtionally unified via blood and lymph systems.
Lymphocytes recirculate.
In total, equivalent in weight to brain or liver.
Primary lymphoid organs
Bone marrowwhere T and B lymphocytes are made.
Thymuswhere T lymphocytes mature/ are selected.
Secondary lymphoid organs
e.g. spleen, lymph nodesand Peyerspatches.
Contain T cells, B cells, antigen presenting cells (APCs).
T cell precursors
(thymocytes) migrate
from the bone marrow
to the thymus to mature.
Mature T cells leave the
thymus and migrate to
secondary lymphoid tissues
where they may encounter
foreign antigen.
THYMUS
Capsule
Septa
Lobule
Densely staining cortex
Pale medulla
Thymus
Lobules show - a lymphocyte-dense outer cortex
- an inner lighter-staining medulla.
Stromal framework with specialisedepithelial cells, DCs
and macrophages (APCs).
T cell precursors arrive from the bone marrow.
Cortex and medulla educate thymocytes into mature,
competent T cells (1 to 3% of T cells survive education).
Mature T cells are released into the peripheral
circulation.
THYMUS
Developing
thymocytes
occupy the
interstices of
an extensive
network of
epithelial cells.
5
Thymocytes- precursor lymphocytes from the bone
marrow which enter the thymus via blood vessels.
Thymocytes proliferate and mature in the thymus but
only 1-3% survive the selection process that allows
mature T cells to enter the peripheral circulation.
The cellular organisation of the thymus
Maturation of T lymphocytes in the thymus
Thymic medulla
Medullaryepithelial cells support T cells on
their processes.
Circulating
lymphocytes
meet
lymph-borne
pathogens
in draining
lymph nodes.
6
Lymph node
Blood
arrival
and exit
Lymph
percolates
to medulla
Lymph node
Mature B cells travel to the lymph node from the blood
stream entering the cortex via high endothelial venules.
They leave the lymph node via the efferent lymph.
A few weeks after it forms, the germinal centre reaction
dies down.
The 3 main types of professional
Antigen Presenting Cell (APC)
are all found in the lymph node.
Dendritic cells (DCs)
Cells possess long processes (membranous
projections) which interdigitate between lymphoid
cells and present antigen to them. They are
professional antigen presenting cells (APCs).
1. Not bone marrow-derived, found in germinal
centres and retains antigen on surface for B cells
to see.
2. Bone marrow-derived cells present in most organs
and abundant in T cell-rich areas of spleen and
lymph node. Present antigen to T cells.
GALT (Gut-AssociatedLymphoidTissue)
Lymphoid tissue closely associated with the gut,
e.g. tonsils, Peyers patches and appendix in man,
bursa of Fabricus in chicken.
MALT (Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue)
Largely synonymous with GALT
SALT (Skin-Associated Lymphoid Tissue)
Langerhanscells, Skin-homing T lymphocytes, etc.
7
Peyers patches(organised patches of lymphoid follicles in the
submucosaof the gut, mainly the ileum).
M cells in the gut epithelium sample antigen and microbes from
the gut lumen making them available to underlying
lymphocytes, dendriticcells and macrophages.
Follicular B cells are triggered
to secrete IgA.
The spleen
Splenic enlargement
Normal
SBE, or glandular
fever
Chronic lymphatic
leukaemia
Chronic malaria; or
visceral Leishmaniasis
notch
Spleen
Red pulp for
blood filtration
White pulp
(lymphoid cells)
Red pulp is sponge-like and consists of blood
sinuses and cords of reticular meshwork with
plasma cells, and macrophages that eliminate
aged and abnormal erythrocytes and platelets.
8
The spleen
An example of antigen presenting cells (APC)
leaving their tissue and migrating to the local
draining lymph node to present antigen.
Extravasationthrough High Endothelial Venules (HEV)
Paracortex
Medulla
Secondary
lymphoid
follicles
Mantle Germinal centre
A spherical aggregation of B lymphocytesand
lymphoblaststogether with follicular dendritic
cellsand macrophagesand a few CD4
+
T cells.
Germinal centres develop in primary follicles of
lymphoid tissues (but dont develop following
Bursectomy, or in T cell-deficient individuals).
Can form in many non-lymphoid tissues in
pathological conditions.
9
Germinal centres (contd)
Small oligoclonal foci of activated B cells develop
into germinal centres.
The B cells proliferate rapidly, doubling every
6-12 hours.
Their V genes undergo somatic hypermutation.
Released antibody traps residual antigen (Ag) onto
surface of follicular dendritic cells.
Germinal centres (contd)
B cells with weak Ag affinity apoptoseand are
phagocytosedby macrophages.
B cells recognising Ag with high affinity are selected
(affinity maturation).
Selected plasma cells do not circulate but migrate to
bone marrow, red pulp of spleen or deep cortex of
lymph node.
Memory cells circulate in the blood, are long-lived, and
and set up new germinal centres upon next exposure to
antigen.
Secondary lymphoid follicle
Germinal centre containing
activated, maturing B cells.
(Dendriticcells and
macrophages also present)
Mantle of
resting
B cells
Trabeculae with arterial supply
White pulp
PALS
Germinal centre of B cells
Red pulp
SPLEEN
Tonsil mass of lymphoid tissue in submucosa of oropharynx.
(many lymphoid follicles, mostly with germinal centres)