INTRODUCTION TO

IMMUNOLOGY

MR E. M MUMBULA
 Definition
• is defined as an enhanced state of
responsiveness to a specific substance,
induced by prior contact with that substance
 Types of Immunity
1. Natural (Innate) immunity
is present from birth
and is nonspecific.
consists of various barriers to external insults;
skin, mucous membranes, macrophages,
monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and the
contents of these cells.
Natural or Innate
 Components of Innate
Immune System
Innate immunity consists of:
• Barriers
• Cellular response
• phagocytosis
• inflammatory reaction
• NK (natural killer) and mast cells
• Soluble factors (Humoral factors)
• Complement, interferons, TNF,
other cytokines
 Types of Immunity
2. Acquired (Adaptive) immunity
Is expressed after exposure to a given substance
and is
 Specific.
Involves specific receptors on lymphocytes and
the participation of macrophages for its
expression
 Adaptive immunity
Consists of:
a. Humoral immunity:- mediated by antibodies
b. Cell-mediated immunity:- mediated by
lymphocytes
 Components of the Immune System
a. Central lymphoid organs
• consist of the bone marrow and thymus.
• are the location of maturation of lymphoid cells.
b. Peripheral lymphoid organs
• consist of the spleen, lymph nodes and lymphatic
channels, tonsils, adenoids, Peyer's patches, and
appendix.
• are the location of reactivity of lymphoid cells.
 Components of the Immune System
c. Cells of the immune system
include the white blood cells
• Granulocytes
• Lymphocytes
• Monocytes and macrophages
 Components of the Immune System
d. Molecules of the immune system
• Antibodies (immunoglobulins) are protein
products of certain lymphocytes with a precise
specificity for a particular antigen.
• Lymphokines are secreted lymphocyte
products that play a role in the activation of
the immune response.
INNATE IMMUNITY

E. M MUMBULA
 Definition

“Refers to various PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, and

CELLULAR attributes that collectively represent
the first line of defence against infectious
disease”
 Properties of Innate Immunity
o Found in all multi-cellular organisms
o Adaptive immunity is only in vertebrates
o Uses ancient gene encoded receptors and
effectors
o Provides protection against a wide variety of
pathogens
o Distinguishes self from non-self well
o Defects in innate immunity are very rare and
almost always lethal
 Properties of Innate Immunity
o Makes the first line of defense and predates
the adaptive immune response
o Works independent of prior exposure
o Thus, lacks memory response & benefits
 1. PHYSIOLOGIC BARRIERS
A. The Skin:
Prevents microorganism from gaining access into
the body
Fatty acids
Low pH (Lactic acid)
Antagonism by normal flora
Salt in sweat
 1. PHYSIOLOGIC BARRIERS
B. Mucous Membranes
Respiratory tract
o Mucous
o Hairs of the nares
o Cilia
o Cough reflex
GIT
o Hydrolytic enzymes
o Acidity of the stomach
o Proteolytic enzymes and macrophages (Small
intestines)
 1. PHYSIOLOGIC BARRIERS
B. Mucous Membranes
Urogenital
o Washing effect of urine
o Acidity of urine
o Vaginal Lactic acid
o Antagonism by normal flora
Eye
o Lysozyme
o Tears and blinking effect
Anatomical defenses
associated with tissue
surfaces
2. CELLULAR COMPONENTS OF INNATE
IMMUNITY
 A. Neutrophils
• Phagocyte with a characteristic nucleus &
cytoplasm
• Carries out phagocytosis, intracellular killing,
inflammation and tissue damage
 A. Neutrophils
• Circulate in blood stream, highly motile
• Extravasate into tissues via diapedesis
towards inflammation by chemotaxis.
• Attracted by cytokines (e.g. IL-8, IFNγ)
produced by epithelial cells and APCs.
• Rapid response- first cell to arrive during an
immune response.
 A. Neutrophils
• Short lifespan (1-2 days).
• Terminally differentiated cells
• Involved in inflammation
• Has a greater killing power than MF
 A. Neutrophils
Killing mechanisms
Phagocytosis
1. Oxygen Dependent:
o Hydrogen peroxide
o Reactive Oxygen
2. Oxygen Independent:
o Lysozyme
o Lactoferrin
o perforins
o Others
 B. Basophils
• Function in disease, not entirely understood
• Contains high affinity receptors for IgE, and
preformed granules that contain inflammatory
mediators including: histamine; heparin;
TNFa; chondroitin sulfate; neutral proteases;
and others
 C. Mast cells
• Mast cells can also secrete: cytokines to
induce inflammation; chemokines to induce
infiltration by monocytes, and neutrophils,
leukotriences to induce muscle contraction
and increase vascular permeability
• Mast cells are capable of inducing an
inflammatory cascade
 D. Mononuclear Phagocytes
• Monocytes are immature circulatory forms (1-6%
WBCs)
• Migrate into tissues and are called macrophages
• Have Specialized names based on site
o Meningeal cells (kidney)
o Connective tissue (histocytes)
o Osteoclasts (bone)
o Kupffer cells (Liver)
o Microglia (brain)
 E. Macrophages

• May become DCs

• Single nucleus
• Abundant cytoplasm
• Carries out phagocytosis and digest engulfed
material
• May also kill nonengulfed material
 E. Macrophages

• Present in all tissues

• Abundant in the spleen, lymph nodes and the
GIT
• Upon activation MΦ process Ag
• MΦ are activated by ??????????????
• On activation MΦ release cytokines to
• communicate with other cells of the immune
system
E. Macrophages
 F. Natural Killer cells (NK cells)
• Large cytotoxic cells (look like
• large lymphocytes and contain granules.)
• 10-15% of peripheral blood lymphocytes
• Kill virus-infected and tumor cells (low MHC I);
also Ab coated cells
• Also important in resistance to intracellular
infections with viruses or bacteria.
 F. Natural Killer cells (NK cells)
• Do not secrete antibodies nor express T cell
receptors (e.g CD3)
• Also called large granular lymphocytes (LGL)
• NK cells kill using perforin
• NK cells do not require a thymus for their
development but have several similarities to
activated CD8 T cells.
• Rapidly produce cytokines upon ligand
recognition.
 F. Natural Killer cells (NK cells)
• NK Killing mechanisms
• Perforin; a cytolytic protein in the granules of
CD8 T-cells and NK cells.
• After degranulation, perforin inserts itself into
the target cell's plasma membrane, forming a
pore.
 G. Dendritic Cells (DCs)
• 􀂄 DCs are highly migratory cells.
• 􀂄 Make up less than 1% of the total
• mononuclear cells.
• 􀂄 Present in their immature form in all
• tissues.
• 􀂄 DCs act as peripheral sentinels,
• detecting, deciphering and responding
• to signs of antigen invasion.
 G. Dendritic Cells (DCs)
• 􀂄 DCs are highly migratory cells.
• 􀂄 Make up less than 1% of the total
mononuclear cells.
• 􀂄 Present in their immature form in all tissues.
• 􀂄 DCs act as peripheral sentinels, detecting,
deciphering and responding to signs of
antigen invasion
 G. Dendritic Cells (DCs)
• DCs then process antigen, move into
• lymphoid organs where they activate T
• cells.
• 􀂄 As DCs migrate towards the lymph
• nodes, they mature.
• 􀂄 They lose their capacity for endocytosis and
become more immunogenic (more dendrites and
expressing a higher numbercostimulatory & MHC
peptide molecules).
ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY