Curs Introductiv

Istoric, Teorii selective si instructive,

Sistem imun specific si nespecific,
Echilibrul dintre fiziologic si patologic

The Immune System

Defends body against pathogens
Can distinguish between self and non-self

General Defence System (innate)

Non-specific = acts against all pathogens

Rapid

1. First line of general defence

Specific Defence System (adaptive)

Skin = barrier. Sweat (acidic pH)

Clotting = also helps protect skin
Lysozyme = enzyme in saliva, sweat, tears. Attacks bacterial cell walls
Mucous (respiratory, digestive, urinary & reproductive tracts) = traps pathogens
Cilia = little hairs that help clear mucous (and pathogens) from respiratory tract
Alimentary canal = lysozyme in saliva, stomach HCl kills many pathogens, specialised
immune areas in the GI tract, very high turnover of epithelial cells, antibodies

2. Second line of general defence

Phagocytic white blood cells (leukocytes) = destroy pathogens that enter

Complement
Inflammation

Phagocytes (Phago= eat; cyte=cell)

attracted to a site of infection (chemotaxis) by chemicals released by injured cells
Three types neutrophils (short lived),
monocytes (short-lived..in blood) and macrophages (long-lived..in tissue)

Variola afectiune eradicata ca urmare

a unei campanii de vaccinare

Vaccinare
14 mai 1796
Edward Jenner il
imunizeaza pe James
Phips, in varsta de 8 ani,
cu materialul biologic
extras din pustula unei
mulgatoare, Sarah
Nelmes, afectata de
cowpox (vaccina). Peste
cateva saptamani, baiatul
este imunizat cu material
biologic extras de la un
pacient cu variola, dar nu
dezvolta boala.

Figure 1-15

Immune organs

Macrophages very large white cells that can move

around body, or remain in certain tissues. Long lived,
act as scavengers

2. Second line of general defence cont.

Complement
set of 30 proteins found in plasma that are activated by
infection
complicated chain reaction that leads to the bursting of
viruses and bacteria
made in the liver

Interferons
set of proteins produced by virally infected cells cells to limit the spread of viral

infections, by inducing a state of resistance in healthy cells.

induced by viruses, bacteria and other signals from the immune system

Inflammation
infected cells (mast cells) release histamine, which is a vasodilator. This causes

localised swelling, redness, heat, pain. Can also cause high temperature.
brings white cells to the area of infection

Anti-histamines

Specific Defence System (Adaptive Immune System)

Antigens foreign molecules that
generate antibody production
Antibodies (immunoglogulins) proteins
produced by lymphocytes in response
to antigens

Monocytes develop into macrophages which phagocytose foreign particles (antigens)

Lymphocytes -

Lymphocytes
B lymphocytes mature in Bone marrow
T lymphocytes mature in the Thymus

Large nucleus

lymphatic tissue, especially spleen and lymph nodes

B-lymphocytes
B lymphocytes make antibodies = immunoglobulins
Antibodies
Can bind to pathogens and prevent
them from infecting cells. Pathogens
are then destroyed by phagocytes
Can inactivate pathogens by causing
them to clump together
Can trigger the complement system,
resulting in pathogens being burst

1000s of different B cells, each recognises a

different antigen on the surface of a macrophage.
Each antigen stimulates production of a single
specific antibody
B cells (along with T cells) come in contact with antigen.
They are stimulated (by T cells) to produce many clones,
plasma cells, which make antibodies.
Memory B cells faster, more sensitive reaction
= secondary response

How B-cells work

Pathogen (e.g. bacteria, virus)

Macrophage

B-cells
Each recognise
a different
antigen. The
correct one
develops into

Macrophage
Phagocytoses pathogen
and displays antigens on
surface

Plasma cells
Clones of the
correct B-cell,
which produce
antibodies

1st meeting a pathogen, this

process takes 10-14 days
Memory B cell= subesquent
meetings, takes about 5 days

T-lymphocytes
Mature in Thymus, which is most active just before and after birth.
The thymus starts to shrink during puberty.
Helper T-Cells
Recognise antigens on
surface of leukocytes,
especially macrophages
Enlagre and form a
clone of T-helper cells
Secrete interferon and
cytokines which
stimulate B-cells and
stimulate killer -cells
Can be infected by HIV

Killer T-Cell
Destroy abnormal body
cells, e.g. virus infected
or cancer cells
Stimulated by cytokines
(THcells)
Release perforin, which
forms pores in target
cells. This allows water
and ions in = lysis

Suppressor T-Cells
Control the
immune system
when the
antigen /pathogen
has
been destroyed
Only recently
discovered so
little is known
about them

Memory T-Cells
Can survive a long time
and give lifelong
immunity from
infection
Can stimulate memory
B-cells to produce
antibodies
Can trigger production
of killer T cells

Abnormal cell e.g

cancer cell, infected cell

Killer T-cell
recognises antigen

How T-cells work

Antigen

Clones of killer T-cell

attach to antigen

Normal cell

Killer T-cells release

perforin pores

Helper T-cell stimulates

correct killer T-cell to
multiply
Helper T-cell also
stimulates B-cells
to make antibodies

Suppressor T-cells
turn off immune
response

Abnormal cell gains

water, swells and
bursts
Memory Tcells stay in
circulation

Duration of immunity

Memory B-cells circulate for a long time. If the same pathogen infects the
body again, these B-cells can produce large amounts of specific antibody
very quickly. This is why you usually dont suffer from the same infection
twice.
Memory T-cells survive a long time and trigger an immune response

Immune disorders

Sometimes the body produces antibodies against its own tissues e.g. autoimmune
diseases e.g. rhumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, SCID (bubble boy disease),
asthma

Allergies occur when the body reacts to materials which should not
be antigenic e.g. peanuts
Tumours in most cases the body recognises tumours as being bad, because they
express abnormal molecules on the cell surface. However sometimes the body doesnt
notice and cancers can develop

Induced Immunity
Active immunity
Production of a persons own
antibodies. Long lasting
Natural Active
Artificial Active
When pathogen
Vaccination usually
enters body in the contains a safe antigen
normal way, we
from the pathogen.
make antibodies
Person makes
antibodies without
becoming ill

Edward Jenner

Passive immunity
An individual is given antibodies by another
Short-term resistance (weeks- 6months)

Natural Passive
Baby in utero
(placenta)
Breast-fed babies

Artificial Passive
Gamma globulin
injection
Extremely fast, but
short lived (e.g. snake
venom)

Macrofag

Figure 1-23

Patogenii care
penetreaza prin
barierele antomice si
fiziologice sunt
intampinati de
sistemul imun
nespecific. Ulterior,
va intra in functiune,
eventual, sistemul
imun specific.
Interactiunea dintre
cele doua sisteme se
realizeaza prin
molecule de
suprafata si citokine.

Trei faze ale

apararii gazdei.
Fiecare dintre ele
implica o strategie
distincta. 1)
bariere preexistente; 2)
sistemul imun
innascut incepe sa
lupte in mod activ;
3) intra in actiune
sistemul imun
specific. La un
contact ulterior cu
antigenul,
limfocitele cu
memorie vor facilita
un raspuns mai
rapid si mai
eficient.

 Organe limfoide
primare: timusul si
maduva osoasa
Organe limfoide
secundare: splina,
ganglioni limfatici,
MALT (tesut limfoid
asociat mucoaselor)

Boala poate apare in situatia cand sistemul imun declanseaza un raspuns imun
necorespunzator.

Figure 1-32