Introduction to Immunology

*Sneezing is a body mechanism to resist pathogen that may in our mucosa. It is a physiologic system.

Objectives
After this meeting, the student should be able to:
1. Define immunology, serology, immune system, immunity, antigen, antibody, complement, MHC/HLA,
and immunopathology.
2. Compare an immunogen and an antigen.
3. Give examples of immunity that occurs in simpler species.
4. Explain the functions of the immune system.
5. Compare innate and adaptive immunity.
6. Describe the desirable and undesirable consequences of the immune system.

Definition of Terms:
IMMUNOLOGY
 The study of the reaction when the host encounters a foreign substance
 Definition is limited because this does not encompass autoimmune responses
 Autoimmune response- It is harmful in the body. There are organism or factors that response

Immunology
 the study of the molecules, cells, organs, and systems responsible for the recognition and disposal of
foreign (non-self) materials.
 how body components respond and interact.
 the desirable and undesirable consequences of immune interactions.
 the ways in which the immune system can be advantageously manipulated to protect against or treat
diseases.
 Antibodies are given passively

Serology
 the study of serum components of the blood.
 deals mostly with the in vitro (outside) measurement of antibody and antigen reactions in serum or
plasma.

Immune system
 The mechanism by which the individual is protected from non-self
Composed of two general components:
 Innate immune system (something that is naturally born in our body. It has to be generated fist before it
becomes effective to the body. Example is the skin)
 Acquired immune system

Immunity
 The discrimination between self and non-self and the subsequent protection from non-self.

Immunogen
 Compound that is capable of eliciting immune response in a host.
 An immunogen can an antigen but not all antigen can be immunogen or stimulate an immune response

Antigen
 The foreign substance that causes the response
 Usually thought of as infectious agent
  Can also be environmental substances
 Can also be synthetic structures
 Not all antigen can elicit immune response

Antibody
 A protein component of the immune system that circulates in the blood, recognizes foreign substances
like bacteria and viruses, and neutralizes them
 Binds to antigen
 React to any substances specifically.
 It is the property of the specificity that makes the antigen reacts to antibody that is useful in serology.

Complement
 One of the 35 proteins involved in pathogen lysis, opsonization, immune complex clearance,
chemotaxis, and vascular permeability changes.
Involves 3 pathways of activation:
 Alternative
 Mannan-binding Lectin
 Classical

MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex)

 Region formed by genetic loci that plays a central role in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity
 Function: binds peptide fragments derived from pathogens and display them on the cell surface for
recognition by the appropriate T cells.
 enable T-lymphocytes to recognize epitopes of antigens and discriminate self from non-self.

T-lymphocytes have TCR molecules that recognize epitopes only after they have been placed on cells of the
body by way of MHC molecules.

HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen)

 Human version of the MHC
 The MHC is referred to as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system in humans because its gene
products were originally identified on white blood cells (WBCs, leukocytes)

Immunopathology
 Deals with the manifestation of conditions concerned with immune responses associated with the
production of disease.
 Study of various diseases in which humoral and cellular immune factors play a role in causing
pathological damage to cells, tissues, and the host.
 Hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency
Distinctive characteristics of the immune system include:
 Specificity
 Memory
 Mobility
 Replicability
 Cooperation between different cells or cellular products