CHAPTER

Specific Host Defense Mechanism 11

INTRODUCTION
The adap ve immune system, also known as the speci c immune system, is
composed of highly-specialized systemic cells and processes that eliminate or prevent
pathogenic growth. The adap ve immune system works to protect and heal the body when
the innate immune system fails. It provides the body with the ability to recognize and
remember speci c pathogens through their an gens. This mechanism allows the immune
system to mount stronger a acks each me the pathogen is encountered, thus preparing
itself for future challenges and preven ng reinfec on by the same pathogen.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the chapter, students must have:
1. Recognized the di erences of innate from adap ve immune system;
2. Examined the func ons of the di erent immunoglobulins;
3. Dis nguished from each other the mechanisms involved in the various types of
hypersensi vity reac ons, ci ng examples of each type; and
4. Explained the role of vaccines in the preven on of the development of infec ous
diseases.

WARM-UP ACTIVITY
Think of a food that you love but is most o en disliked.

CENTRAL ACTIVITIES
Learning Input 1 (Lecture)
Speci c Host Defense
• The immune system is considered to be the third line of defense.
• It is considered a speci c host defense mechanism because it springs into ac on to
defend against a speci c pathogen (or other foreign object) that has gained entrance
to the body.
Immunology
• The scien c study of the immune system and immune responses.
An gens
• Molecules that s mulate a person’s immune system to produce an bodies.
An bodies
• Proteins produced by the immune system in response to an gens.

Primary Func ons of the Immune System

1. Di eren ate between “self” and “nonself” (something foreign)
2. Destroy that which is non- self

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 Major Arms of the Immune System
1. Humoral Immunity/An body-Mediated Immunity (AMI)
• Always involves the produc on of an bodies in response to an gens.
• A er their produc on, these humoral (circula ng) an bodies
remain in blood plasma, lymph, and other body secre ons where they protect
against the speci c pathogens that s mulated their produc on.
• Thus, in humoral immunity, a person is immune to a par cular pathogen
because of the presence of speci c protec ve an bodies that are e ec ve
against that pathogen.
2. Cell-Mediated Immunity (CMI)
• Involves many di erent cell types, including macrophages, T helper cells,
cytotoxic T cells, delayed hypersensi vity T cells, natural killer cells, killer cells,
and granulocytes.
• Although an bodies may play a role in some types of cell-mediated immune
reac ons, they do not play a major role.

Cells of the Immune System

1. T lymphocytes (T cells)
a. Helper T cells/T-helper cells/TH cells/CD4+ cells
• Do not have the direct capacity to destroy an an gen.
• Instead it ac vates the cytotoxic T cells and s mulates di eren a on of B-
cells into an body-producing plasma cells.
b. Cytotoxic T cells/T cytotoxic cells/TC cells/CD8+ cells
• The primary func on of cytotoxic T cells is to destroy virally infected host
cells, foreign cells, and tumor cells.
2. B lymphocytes/B cells
• In the presence of the appropriate an gen, the B cells di eren ate into
an body-producing plasma cells as well as memory B cells.
• They are involved in the body’s humoral immunity,
• Also func on as professional an gen presen ng cell.
3. NK Cells/Null Cells
• A category of lymphocytes
• E ector lymphocytes of the innate immune system that control several types of
tumors and microbial infec ons by limi ng their spread and subsequent ssue
damage.
4. Macrophages
• See details on previous chapter

Immunity
1. Acquired Immunity
• Immunity that results from the ac ve produc on or receipt of protec ve
an bodies during one’s life me.
a. Ac ve acquired immunity
• If the an bodies are actually produced within the person’s body.

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 i. Natural Ac ve Acquired Immunity
• People who have had a speci c infec on usually have
developed some resistance to reinfec on by the
causa ve pathogen because of the presence of
an bodies and s mulated lymphocytes.
ii. Ar cial Ac ve Acquired Immunity
• Results when a person receives a vaccine.
b. Passive acquired immunity
• The person receives an bodies that were produced by another
person or by more than one person, or, in some cases, by an animal;
such protec on is usually only temporary.
i. Natural Passive Acquired Immunity
• Small an bodies (like immunoglobulin G [IgG], present in
the mother’s blood cross the placenta to reach the fetus
while it is in the uterus (in utero).
• Colostrum, the thin, milky uid secreted by mammary
glands a few days before and a er delivery, contains
maternal an bodies to protect the infant during the rst
months of life.
ii. Ar cial Passive Acquired Immunity
• Accomplished by transferring an bodies from an
immune person to a suscep ble
person.

Hypersensi vity and Hypersensi vity Reac ons

• The term hypersensi vity refers to an overly sensi ve or overly reac ve immune
system. In such situa ons, the immune system, in an a empt to protect the person,
causes irrita on or damage to certain cells and ssues in the body.
1. Immediate-type Hypersensi vity Reac ons
• Occur from within a few minutes to 24 hours a er contact with a
par cular an gen.
a. Type I Hypersensi vity Reac ons/Anaphylac c Reac ons
• Include classic allergic responses such as hay fever symptoms,
asthma, hives, and gastrointes nal symptoms that result from
food allergies; allergic responses to insect s ngs and drugs;
and anaphylac c shock.
• These reac ons all involve IgE an bodies and the release of
chemical mediators (especially histamine) from mast cells and
basophils.
b. Type II Hypersensi vity Reac ons
• Cytotoxic reac ons, meaning that body cells are destroyed
during these reac ons.
• Include the cytotoxic reac ons that occur in incompa ble
blood transfusions, Rh incompa bility reac ons, and
myasthenia gravis; all of these reac ons involve IgG or IgM
an bodies and complement.

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 c. Type III Hypersensi vity Reac ons/Immune Complex Reac ons
• Include serum sickness and certain autoimmune diseases (e.g.,
systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and rheumatoid arthri s).
• These reac ons involve IgG or IgM an bodies, complement,
and neutrophils.
2. Type IV Hypersensi vity Reac ons/Delayed Hypersensi vity (DTH)/Cell-
mediated Immune Reac ons
• They are usually observed 24 to 48 hours or longer a er exposure or
contact.
• They occur in tuberculin and fungal skin tests, contact derma s, and
transplanta on rejec on.

Autoimmune Diseases
• Results when a person’s immune system a acks the person’s body ssues as if they
were nonself or foreign.
• Such ssues may include the lens of the eye, the brain and spinal cord, and sperm.
• Subsequent exposure to this ssue (by surgery or injury) may allow an bodies (IgG or
IgM) to be formed, which together with complement could cause destruc on of these
ssues, resul ng in blindness, allergic encephali s, or sterility.

Ac vity 1
You are expected to par cipate in the online lecture on December 1, 2020 (Tuesday;
8:00am-8:30am for Level IIA and 9:00am-9:30am for Level IIB).

Learning Input 2 (Laboratory)

Several factors play a role in the occurence of infec on. One of these factors, and
probably the most of them all, is the defensive powers of the host. Each human being is
equipped with an arsenal of responses that aids him or her in gh ng disease-producing
organisms. The human body’s rst line of defense helps prevent the entry of organisms into
our body the entry of microorganisms into our body. If the organism gain entry into the
body, the second line of defense inhibits their growth and mul plica on. Finally, organisms
that escape the second line of defense are dealt with by the third line of defense, the
immune response.

Ac vity 2
You are expected to par cipate in the online lecture on December 1, 2020 (Tuesday;
8:30am-9:00am for Level IIA and 9:30am-10:00am for Level IIB).

WRAP-UP ACTIVITY
Summarize what you have learned or how your new learnings has changed your
thoughts on the topic.

Angelica May DC. Mendoza, RPh, MS Page 4 of 5

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 POST-ASSESSMENT

Worksheet 11 (Lecture)
You are required to accomplish the Worksheet 11. The ac vity will be posted on
December 1, 2020 (Tuesday) in the mVLE course page. Make sure to complete and submit
your output on or before 11:59 pm December 6, 2020 (Sunday).

Worksheet 11 (Laboratory)
You are required to accomplish the Worksheet 11. The ac vity will be posted on
December 1, 2020 (Tuesday) in the mVLE course page. Make sure to complete and submit
your output on or before 11:59 pm December 6, 2020 (Sunday).

Quiz 11
You are required to take the Quiz 11. The quiz will be posted on December 1, 2020
(Tuesday) a er the online lecture in the mVLE course page. Make sure to complete and
submit your output on or before 11:59 pm December 1, 2020 (Tuesday).

Angelica May DC. Mendoza, RPh, MS Page 5 of 5

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