Antibody

Buga Rudolf
Antigen
• Any substance that causes the immune
system to produce antibodies against it
•This means the body does not recognize
the substance
•So the body tries to fight it off
•An antigen may be a substance from the
environment, such as chemicals,
bacteria, viruses, or pollen
Types of antigens based on origin
• Exogenous Antigens (external antigens that enter the
body from outside, e.g. inhalation, injection, etc.)
• Endogenous Antigens (inside the body, tell the
immune system that they are either friendly (“self”) or
harmful. E.g. cells infected with bacteria or a virus that
mark themselves to be destroyed by the immune system
• Autoantigens: Are a result of mutation, neo-antigen
formation, or exposure of previously hidden self-
antigens e.g Genes producing self-proteins that can
mutate
Types of antigens based on origin….
• Tumour Antigen: Antigenic substance produced in
tumor cells, that triggers an immune response in the
host. (are useful tumor markers in identifying tumor
cells with diagnostic tests and are potential
candidates for use in cancer therapy
• Native Antigens: An antigen that is not yet
processed by an APC to smaller parts. T cells cannot
bind native antigens, but require that they be
digested and processed by APCs, whereas B cells
can be activated by native antigens without prior
processing
Types of antigens based on origin….

• Immunogen: Any substance that generates B-cell

and/or T-cell adaptive immune responses upon
exposure to a host organism (immunogens that
generate antibodies are called antigens)
• Haptens: Small molecules that elicit an immune
response only when attached to a large carrier such
as a protein; the carrier may be one that also does
not elicit an immune response by itself
Antibody
• ABs are produced in the body in response to
an antigen recognized as non-self
• Antibodies combine with antigen that caused
their production
• ABs are specific for the AGs that induced
them
• Are proteins and form about (20%) of total
serum protein
• The body produces many different antibodies
Antibody
• Antibody/immunoglobulin (Ig) is a ‘Y’ shaped
molecule produced in response to the presence of a
foreign antigen
• Made of two identical ‘ light’ and ‘ heavy’ chains of
amino acids
• Variable regions of both ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ chains
are responsible for binding of antigens
• Light chain may be lambda or kappa
• Five major classes of Antibodies (Abs): IgM, IgG,
IgA, IgD and IgE
• Locations of Abs in the body and stimulation of
innate system are different
Immunoglobulin Structure, Antigen Binding
Sites
Clonal selection & immunological
memory
• Clonal selection theory illustrates how immunological
memory allows a rapid response upon a second exposure
to antigen
• Forms the basis of natural immunity and artificial
immunity
• Each B cell carries specific Antibody as a cell surface
receptor
• A soluble Ag present, binds to the Antibody on the B cell
surface with correct specificity
• B cell clones develop into Antibody producing plasma
cells or memory cells
Clone
• Only B cells, which are Ag –specific, are capable of
secreting antibodies
Clone…
• Following initial exposure to Ag, the plasma cells stop producing Ab and
die.
• Memory cells remain in greater numbers than the initial B cells, allowing
the Ab to quickly respond to a second exposure of that Ag.
• Low levels of soluble Ab are made about one week after Ag exposure
unlike second exposure
• Ability of Ab to bind Ag also increases in the secondary exposure.
Clone…

• A secondary immune response is faster, and produces Ab

with a 10,000 fold increase in binding affinity
• This is due to altered variable regions of light and heavy
chains of the memory cells by specific somatic mutation
• This random process can improve Ag binding
 Classes of Antibodies

1. Ig A (15% of total Antibody)

• Found in mucous secretions of the respiratory tract and
upper part of the digestive tract and vagina and colostrum
• Ig A in colostrum of mothers protect their babies for about
six months
• Ig A has two binding sites as shown diagrammatically below
(bivalent)
Classes of antibodies…….
2. IgD (less than 1%)
• Has a role in activating and suppressing
lymphocyte activity
• Found in large quantities in the cell walls of
many B cells
• It has a single binding site (monovalent)
Classes of antibodies …..…
3. IgE ( less than 1%)
• Mediator in allergic response
• Activates histamine secreting cells
• Appears to play a role in parasitic infection.
• Has a single binding site (monovalent)
Classes of antibodies……..
4. Ig G (75% of immunoglobulin pool)
• Stimulates phagocytic cells
• Activate complement system
• Binds neutrophils
• Neutralise toxins
• It is the only Ab that can cross the placenta and
confer immunity on the foetus
• Has a single binding site (monovalent)
Classes of antibodies ………
5. Ig M (about 10% of the total antibodies)
• Predominant early Antibody
• The one that first activates in an initial attack of Ag
• With 5 Ag binding sites, and effective agglutinator of
Antigens (Star shaped) (pentavalent)
• Important in initial activation of B cells, macrophages,
and the complement system.