1 Immunology and Serology

1. Introduction

• Why is blood commonly referred to as tissue and is rarely

referred to as an organ?

• Blood does not only consist of a group of cells and it not only fulfills a

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task, but also has different cells in it.

1.1. Blood:

Histologically, three types of cells can be distinguished:

• Erythrocytes (Red blood cells), 4-5 million cells per μl of blood.

• Leukocytes (white blood cells), only 4,000-9,000 cells per μl of
blood.
• Platelets (blood platelets), approximately 150,000-300,000 cells per
μl of blood.

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Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy
 2 Immunology and Serology
1. Introduction
1.2. Leukocytes

• Leukocytes are the nucleated cells of human blood which do not

carry a blood dye (hemoglobin). They are also called white blood

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corpuscles.

• According to morphological criteria:

1.2.1. Granulocytes
neutrophil granulocytes
Band neutrophil granulocytes
segment nuclear granulocytes
basophilic granulocytes
eosinophilic granulocytes
1.2.2. Lymphocytes
B lymphocytes (B cells)
T lymphocytes (T cells)
natural killer cells (NK cells)
1.2.3. Monocytes

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Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy
 3 Immunology and Serology
1. Introduction

1.2.1. Leukocytes/Granulocytes
1.2.1.1.A • Granulocytes are part of the cellular immune defense.

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• According to their microscopic morphology and the staining
behavior, different forms of granulocytes can be distinguished.

1.2.1.1. neutrophil granulocytes

1.2.1.1.B
A) Band neutrophil granulocytes
B) segment nuclear granulocytes

1.2.1.2. basophilic granulocytes/ (0 - 2%)

1.2.1.2
1.2.1.3. eosinophilic granulocytes/ (2-5%)

Granulocytes are counted as nonspecific, innate

1.2.1.3. immune systems
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Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy
 4 Immunology and Serology
1. Introduction
1.2.2. Leukocytes/ Lymphocytes

• Lymphocytes are a subgroup of leukocytes. Their main task is the

targeted defense against foreign substances, especially infectious
agents. However, their activity is also directed against altered

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corporeal cells, e.g. Tumor cells.

1.2.2.1. Classification according to function:

• B-lymphocytes (B cells:) produce specific antibodies against foreign

antigens. They can be further subdivided into naive, i. antigen-
inactivated B-cells, plasma blasts, plasma cells and B-memory cells.

• T-lymphocytes (T cells): They mature in the thymus and recognize

directly foreign cells. Subforms are inter alia. naive T cells, T killer
cells, T helper cells, Regulatory T cells and T memory cells.

• In addition to these two main classes, there is still another type of

lymphocytes, the NK cells. They do not have either a T- or a B-cell
receptor.
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Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy
 5 Immunology and Serology
1. Introduction
1.2.3. Leukocytes/ Monocytes

• Monocytes are cellular components of human blood belonging to

the cell class of the leukocytes. When they leave the circulating
blood, the macrophages develop from them.

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• Monocytes are the largest cells in the circulating blood.

• Monocytes circulate approximately 12-48 hours in the blood and

account for about 2-8% of the total leukocyte population.

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Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy
 6 Immunology and Serology
1. Introduction/ Summary

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The following slide do not cover all topics.
Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy
 7 Immunology and Serology
1. Introduction/ Summary

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The following slide do not cover all topics.
Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy
 8 Immunology and Serology
1. Introduction/ Summary

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The following slide do not cover all topics.
Main Source: Immuno Biology, Kenneth Murphy