What are the main cells of the immune system?

The WBCs are the cells of the immune system and are broadly classify into 2 groups; granule and agranular.

Mnemonics…”Never Eat Banana Like Monkey”..

a) Neutrophils
b) Eosinophils
c) Basophils
d) Lymphocytes (T & B lymphocytes)
e) Monocytes

They called Monocytes only when present in the circulation and they become macrophages when they reach
body tissues. The name of the macrophages depends on the tissue they are found.

i. Skin -- Langerhans Cells

ii. Spleen --- Dendritic cells
iii. Liver -------kupfer cells
iv. CNS ----- microglia
v. Bone---- osteoclasts
vi. Kidney --- mesangial cells
vii. Lungs --- dust/ alveolar cells

Neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets found in the blood are an important part of
the body defense system but are not directly involved in recognition of foreign (nonself) stimuli and antigens, which is
the primary function and characteristic of the cells of the immune system.

Therefore the main Cells of the immune system are

 Lymphocytes.
 T lymphocytes.
 B lymphocytes.
 Natural killer cells.
 Macrophages.
 Dendritic cells

List key facts about T lymphocytes And B lymphocytes.

Let us first review the lymphoid organs!!!!!…

Both T & B originate from the bone marrow but diffrent maturation sites. B Cells undergo maturation in the bone
marrow whereas the T cells undergo maturation in the thymus gland (B for bone marrow and T for thymus).

The bone marrow therefore is the primary lymphoid organ and the secondary lymphoid organ include the following.

a. SPLEEN: It is basically made up of two region;the red and white pulp.The lymphocytes are associated white
pulp(remember they are white blood cells).
T cells are found in the periarterial sheath & B Cells found in the follicles .

B.).LYMPH NODES. Are small encapsulated bean shaped organ that is compose of basically the following parts

 Cortex : this further divided into outer & inner cortex. The inner cortex is also called the paracortex. B
cells are organised in the germinal centers in the cortex while T cells are found in the inner cortex (paracortex).
 Medulla.

In the small intestine,collections of lymph nodules are called Peyer patches.

C). Mucosa Associated lymphoid tissues (MALT):

Are another group of important secondary lymphoid structures . As the name implies,they are associated with the
mucosal surfaces of almost any organ but especially those of the digestive, genitourinary, and respiratory tracts
which are constantly expose to a wide variety of potentially harmful microorganisms and therefore require their own
system of antigen capture and presentation to lymphocytes. Eg peyer patches of the GIT.

NOW LET ANSWER THE QUESTIONS!!!!!!

List key facts about T lymphocytes.

Q 2..We shall be looking at 3 aspects : locations,%, and structures on T cells

1).T lymphocytes are typically found in the following locations:

 Paracortical areas of lymph nodes.

 Periarteriolar sheaths of the spleen.
 Thymus.
 Bone marrow and peripheral blood
2).T lymphocytes account for 60% to 70% of circulating lymphocytes in the blood

STRUCTURES ON T CELLS.

3).T cell receptor(TCR)

The specific surface antigen is antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR), which can be composed of:

 Alpha-beta chains (found in 95% of T cells) --- in blood and tissues

 Gamma-delta heterodimers.(5% of Tcells ) ----- In GI mucosa and skin.

Each T cell has a unique TCR, reflecting a unique rearrangement of the genes (marker of clonality)..ie from a
clone of Tcells , a particular T cell is selected because of the specificity of that T cell to a specific antigen. This
is known as clonal selection.

4)clusster of differentiation (CD molecule)

From a cluster of unknown cells, you can be able to differentiate a cell from the others base on the CD molecule
present on it. T cells can have CD 1,2,3,4….28. However, CD 3,4 and 8 very important.

 CD3 is present on ALL T cells and hence it is called the PAN T cell marker.
 CD 4 is present on 60% of the mature T cells and these are called the Helper/Inducer cells commonly
abbreviated as T helper cells.

There are two subdivision of T helper cells (TH1 and TH2) which are differ in the type of cytokines secreted .

>TH1 secretes IL-2 and interferon(INF) gamma

>TH-2 secretes IL-4 and 5.

 CD8 is present on 30% 0f mature Tcells and they are called Suppressor/ cytotoxic T Cells.

Q 3…List key features of B lymphocytes.

Again, we shall be looking at 3 aspects : locations , % and Structures

1).LOCATIONS.

B lymphocytes are typically found in the following locations:

 Superficial cortex of lymph nodes.
 Germinal centers and mantle zone of stimulated lymph nodes.
 Follicles of the white pulp of the spleen.
 Mucosa-associated lymphoid system (MALT) in intestines and the respiratory tract.
 Bone marrow and peripheral blood.

2)..B lymphocytes constitute 10% to 20% of circulating lymphocytes in the blood.

3).STUCTURES

 B cell receptor = antibodies (IgM and IgD)

Antigen-specific surface immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the consequence of the unique gene rearrangements and a
marker of B-cell clonality.

Two more nonvariable transmembrane proteins (Iga and Igb) form a heterodimer that is a part of the B-cell
receptor complex.

 On antigenic stimulation, B cells form plasma cells that secrete antigen-specific immunoglobulins

 CD molecule( 19 ,20,21,22, 23

CD19 is present on all B CELLS and hence it is called PAN Bcell marker.

Clinical application; EBV (an oncogenic virus) has affinity for CD 21 which is present on B Cells. This is why majority
of the tumors cause EBV are B cells tumors which include the following

 Hodgkins lymphoma
 Non hodgkins lymphoma
 Africa type Burkit lymphoma

The ONLY T cell tumor cause by EBV Is Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Q4..List key features of natural killer (NK) cells.

T and B cells are called small lymphoctes while the NK Cells are the large lymphocytes.

Key features of NK Cells include the following.

1).NK cells constitute approximately 10% to 15% of circulating lymphocytes.

2).They are CD3 negative and do not rearrange the CD3 gene but do express some surface T-cell markers.
They express receptors for Fc of IgG (also known as CD16), which enables them to lyse IgG-coated target cells.

3).They can kill a variety of virus-infected cells and some tumor cells without prior sensitization (i.e., ‘‘natural’’ killer). that
is why they are part of the innate immunity in contrast to T & B cells which are part of acquired immunity.

 NK cells express inhibiting receptors for class I major histocompatability complex (MHC) molecules present on all
nucleated cells. If a virus or a neoplastic transformation altered the expression of MHC class I molecules, the
inhibition is interrupted and the NK cell attacks the altered cell (causing cell lysis).

NOTE. ….MHC1 is present on all nucleted cells plus plstelets.

MHCII present on antigen presenting cells (APC) which include ; B cells, dendritic cells and macrophages.

Q5). What is the main function of macrophages in the immune response?

Macrophages belong to the class of antigen presenting cells (APCs), crucial for the activation of T
lymphocytes. Macrophages take up the antigen, process it, and present it to T cells.

Q6)..What are dendritic cells?

Dendritic cells are APCs found in the germinal follicles (follicular dendritic cells), interstitium of many organs
(interdigitating dendritic cells). They are found in tissues that are in contact with the outside environment such as the
skin (present as langerhans cells).

Q 7).List key features of cytokines.

 Definition : Cytokines are soluble signaling molecules secreted by a variety of cells, both of the immune and
the nonimmune system.

 FXN : They can act on the same cell that secreted them (autocrine effect), on the cells in close proximity
(paracrine effect), or on remote cells after being transported through the bloodstream (endocrine effect).

 The best-known cytokines are:

 Interferons.
 interleukins (ILs).
 tumor necrosis factor(TNF)
 chemokines (chemoattractors), and
 colony-stimulating factors (hematopoietic growth factors).

Q8..What are the characteristics of histocompatibility antigens?

MHC is also called HLA( human leucocyte antigen)

 They bind processed foreign proteins (e.g., viral particles during cell infection and phagocytized material) and are
involved in presenting them on the cell surface to T cells.

 MHC genes are located on chromosome 6 and it is made up of 3 class(class I,ii,& iii).

MHC Class I antigens are expressed on all nucleated cells and are encoded by three closely linked gene loci (HLA-A, HLA-
B, and HLA-C). Foreign protein (e.g., viral particles synthesized within the cell) is associated with MHC class I protein and
transported to the cell surface,where it is recognized by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells bearing TCR specific for the antigen peptide.

 MHC Class II antigen (HLA-DP, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DR) expression is restricted to APCs
(macrophages and dendritic cells); they bind phagocytized antigens and present them on their
surface, where they are recognized by CD4+ helper T lymphocytes.
 An association of certain diseases and specific HLA types (higher relative risk of developing certain disease) has been noticed. This may
be because of the close proximity of HLA genes and the disease-causing gene on chromosome 6 or because of the type of HLA (so-
called haplotype).

HALOTYPE : A Set of genetic determinants located on a single chromosome ie group of genes inherited together .

Q9..How are the antigens classified?

 Exogenous (e.g., dust, pollens, chemicals)

 Endogenous, formed within the body of the same individual (autologous) or genetically different
individual of the same species (homologous).

Q10..