1.

Overview of the Immune System

1) Immunityisthestateofprotectionagainstforeignorganisms/substances

(antigens).Vertebrateshavetwotypesofimmunity,innateandadaptive.
2) Innate immunity is not specific to any one pathogen but rather
constitutes a first line of defense, which includes anatomic,
physiologic,endocyticandphagocytic&inflammatorybarriers.
3) Innateandadaptiveimmunityoperateincooperative&interdepedent
ways.Theactivationofinnateimmuneresponsesproducessignalsthat
stimulate&directsubsequentadaptiveimmuneresponses.
4) Adaptive immune responses exhibit four immunologic attributes:
specificity,diversity,memory&self/nonselfrecognition.
5) Thehighdegreeofspecificity inadaptiveimmunityarisesfromthe
activitiesofmolecules(antibodies&Tcellreceptors)thatrecognize
andbindspecificantigens.
6) Abrecognize&interactdirectlyw/Ag. Tcellreceptorsrecognize
only Ag that is combined with either class I or class II major
histocompatibilitycomplex(MHC)molecules.
7) 2majorsubpopulationsofTlymphocytesaretheCD4+Thelper(TH)
cellsandCD8+Tcytotoxic(TC)cells.
TH cells secrete cytokines that regulate immune response upon
recognizingAgcombinedw/classIIMHC.
TC cells recognize Ag combined with class I MHC & give rise to
cytotoxicTcells(CTLs),whichdisplaycytotoxicability.
8) Exogenous (extracellular) Ag are internalized & degraded by APC
(macrophages,Bcells&dendriticcells);theresultingantigenicpeptides
complexedwithclassIIMHCmoleculesarethendisplayedonthecell
surface.
9) Endogenous (intracellular) antigens (e.g., viral and tumor proteins
producedinalteredselfcells)aredegradedinthecytoplasmandthen
displayedwithclassIMHCmoleculesonthecellsurface.
10) The immune system produces both humoral and cellmediated
responses. The humoral response is best suited for elimination of
exogenous antigens; the cellmediated response, for elimination of
endogenousantigens.
11) Whilean adaptive immunesystemisfound onlyinvertebrates,innate
immunityhasbeendemonstratedinorganismsasdifferentasinsects,
earthworms,andhigherplants.
12) Dysfunctionsoftheimmunesystemincludecommonmaladiessuchas
allergy/asthma.
13) Loss of immune function leaves host susceptible to infection; in
autoimmunity,theimmunesystemattackshostcells/tissues.