What is immunology ?

The Discovery of Vaccination

https://www.bioexplorer.net/history_of_biology/immunology/
Eradication of Small Pox
Other Historic events & Important findings
The Immune System
Classification of immune organs of immune system
Classification of immune organs of immune system
Classification of immune organs of immune system
Primary organs of immune system
Primary organs of immune system: Thymus

The thymus is the site of T cell

development and maturation. It is a flat
and bilobed organ situated just above the
heart. The thymus is externally covered
with a capsule layer and internally, it is
divided into lobules, which are connected
to each other by a connective tissue
known as “trabeculae.” Each lobule is
divided into two compartments. The
outer compartment or cortex is densely
packed with immature T cells known as
thymocytes, and the inner compartment
or medulla is continuous with the
network of thymocytes in the cortex.
Reference slide: stem cells
 Hematopoietic Progenitor cells
Hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are an intermediate cell type in blood cell development. HPCs
are immature cells that develop from hematopoietic stem cells, cells that can both self-renew and
differentiate into hematopoietic progenitor cells. HPCs eventually differentiate into one of more than
ten different types of mature blood cells.

Hematopoietic progenitor cells are categorized based upon their cell potency, or their differentiation
potential. As blood cells develop, their potency decreases.

First, hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into multipotent progenitor cells. Multipotent progenitor
cells are those with the potential to differentiate into a subset of cell types. These cells then
differentiate into either the common myeloid progenitor (CMP) or common lymphoid progenitor
(CLP).

Both CMPs and CLPs are types of oligopotent progenitor cells (progenitor cells that differentiate into
only a few cell types).

CMPs and CLPs continue to differentiate along cell lines into lineage-restricted progenitor cells that
become final, mature blood cells.
Hematopoietic Progenitor cells
 Primary organs of immune system: Bone Marrow

Bone marrow is responsible for the maturation and development of B lymphocytes in both humans and mice. B
lymphocytes originate from the lymphoid progenitor cells; proliferate and differentiate in the bone marrow.
 Primary organs of immune system: Bone Marrow
Not all species have bone marrow as their primary lymphoid organ for B cell maturation.
Reference slide: Cell lineages
HSC Cell lineages
 Secondary organs of immune system
➢ Secondary lymphoid organs can be considered as the filters which monitor the
content of the extracellular fluids.

➢ The fluids which are monitored are blood, lymph, and tissue fluid. These organs,
then, trap any antigen present in the fluid so that the lymphocytes can interact with
it.

➢ The main purpose of the secondary lymphoid organs is to provide a site to the
mature lymphocytes to interact with the antigens. It is the site where lymphocytes
are activated.

➢ The secondary lymphoid organs include lymph nodes, spleen, and various mucosa-
associated lymphoid tissues (MALT) such as gut-associated lymphoid tissue
(GALT).
 Secondary organs of immune system: Lymph Nodes

These are bean-shaped structures

containing a large number of lymphocytes,
macrophages, and dendritic cells. Lymph
nodes are clustered at the junction of the
lymphatic tissue. Whenever an antigen
enters a tissue system, lymph nodes are the
first to encounter it.
 Secondary organs of immune system: Spleen
➢ The spleen plays a major role in eliciting an immune
response against the antigens present in the bloodstream.

➢ It is a large, oval-shaped organ present at the upper left

abdominal cavity.

➢ Unlike the lymph nodes which are specialized in trapping

the antigens from the local tissue system, the spleen filters
the fluid and traps the blood-borne antigens.

➢ Spleen is supplied by the splenic artery which carries the

blood-borne antigens and lymphocytes to it, unlike the
lymph nodes that is supplied by the lymphatic vessels.

➢ Spleen is also covered with capsule and is divided into

compartments by trabeculae. The compartments are
divided into ‘red pulp’ and ‘white pulp.’ The red pulp is the
site where old and defective red blood cells are destroyed
and removed.
 Secondary organs of immune system: MALT

Mucous membrane lines the digestive tract, respiratory, and urinogenital system of the body. This
lining is one of the major sites for pathogen entry. Therefore, the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
has an ability to protect the body from the invading microorganisms because of a large number of
plasma cells (which secrete antibodies), which is even more than the number of plasma cells present in
the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow combined.
 Secondary organs of immune system
➢ MALT: Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue

➢ GALT: Gut associated lymphoid tissue

➢ BALT: Bronchus associated lymphoid tissue

➢ NALT: Nasal associated lymphoid tissue

➢ CALT: Conjunctival associated lymphoid tissue

➢ O-MALT: Organised- mucosa associated lymphoid tissue(tonsils)

➢ L-ALT: Larynx associated lymphoid tissue

➢ SALT: Skin associated lymphoid tissue

Secondary organs of immune system: SALT
Secondary organs of immune system: GALT
Maturation of Lymphocytes and their activation
Maturation of B cells
Maturation of B cells
 Maturation of T cells

https://periobasics.com/cellular-basis-of-immune-response/
Different kinds of Dendritic cells and their Origin