Notes: Specific Immune Reactivity: Antibodies and Lymphocytes

Video 1:
● All immune cells derived from hematopoetic stem cells in bone marrow
● Characteristics of specific immunity:
○ Antigen specific – have antigen binding receptor for recognition
○ Diverse repertoire – antigen receptors must be sufficiently diverse to
recognize many pathogens
○ Immunological memory – able to “memorize” the pathogens and mount better
response
○ Self and non-self discrimination – to avoid destruction of self

● Lymphoid organs:
○ Primary lymphoid organs: thymus and bone marrow
■ Primary bc it’s where lymphocytes are developed from the precursors
○ Secondary lymphoid organs: lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, Peyers Patches
■ Lymphocytes interact with antigens and other accessory cells
■ Differentiation of lymphocytes into effector cells (B+T lymphocytes)

● Basic structure of antibodies: 4 polypeptide chains, 2 long identical heavy chains and
2 shorter, lighter identical chains, 4 antigen binding sites in total
○ Linked by disulphide bonds
○ 5 types: IgG, M, D (only insoluble form), E, A1 (got me depressed, everyones
annoying)
○ Can occur in 2 forms - soluble (in blood plasma) and a membrane bound form
(attached to the surface of a B cell and known as a B cell receptor BCR)
○ Different antibodies can recognize the epitope (the antigenic determinant on
an antigen) of an antigen

● How does an antibody work?

○ B cells have antigen receptors on the surface, so they produce antibodies
○ Antibody can only mediate cell lysis through complement or other
immune cells. Binding of Ab per se CANNOT lyse target cells directly

○ Function 1) binding of antibody to the microbe to neutralise the microbes

■ Bc the antibody has 2 binding sites, it can also clump/agglutinate the
microbes tgt → precipitation of dissolved antigens

○ Function 2) opsonisation and phagocytosis of molecules

■ Macrophages have a receptor that can recognise the constant region
on IgG → binding of antibody to the microbe will recruit a nearby
phagocyte to carry it out (process known as opsonisation)

○ Function 3) mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC):

■ Ex of ADCC - NK cells are recruited to target cells bc the target cells
are coated in antibodies and mediate NK lysis
■ Ex 2 - recruitment of Eosinophils: high affinity to recognise the Fc
region of IgE
● IgE is a specialised antibody for worm killing
 ● Cannot phagocytize a worm bc too big, but IgE can recognize
antibodies on worm surface and recruit eosinophils to kill by
releasing cytotoxic granules which create an envi unfavorable
for the worm to survive

○ F 4) activate the innate immune pathway (complement system)

■ A. lyse the microbes by forming MAC (membrane attack complex)
■ B. complement activation of C3b → macrophage recognise C3b and
opsonise/phagocytise the microbes
■ C. initiation of inflammatory response

● 2 major arms of specific immunity:

○ Humoral response: mediated by B-lymphocytes and antibodies
■ Effector function is being carried out by a protein rather than a cell
■ B cell generation: hematopoetic stem cell → mature B cell (contains
antigen receptors, aka B cell receptors, specifically IgM + IgD)
■ In a secondary lymphoid organ, can differentiate into effector cells
(aka plasma cells)
● Why? To secrete antibodies for effective protective function
○ Cell-mediated response
Video 2:
● Development of T cells: come from a hematopoietic stem cell and have to go through
thymus organ
○ T precursor cells → mature cells, defined by the presence of T-antigen cell
receptors (TCR)
■ If they meet any antigens, then will develop into effector T cells or
memory T cells
■ TCR: contains a variable region, a constant region, but only contains 2
polypeptide chains, the α and β chains for (unlike the B antibodies)
● Only 1 binding site instead of the 2 on antibodies
● TCR Antigen Receptors:
○ B cell recognise antigens in its native form, but T cells recognise antigens in
association with a cell called antigen presenting cells (APC)
○ APC contains a group of molecules called major histocompatibility complex
(MHC) → they represent the peptide antigen to T cells
○ Contains: alpha beta chain of T cell receptors + complex called CD3 +
co-receptor called CD4/CD8
■ CD3 transduces signals from TCR to T cell
■ 2 types of T cells -> CD4 or CD 8 T cells
● CD8 T (killer T cells) cells become effector cells, which have
cytotoxic granules inside the cells → produce the effector
killing function
● CD8 recognize antigen by MHC class I molecule
● 2 classes of cytotoxic granules: perforin (forms pores in target
cells) and granzymes (penetrates into target cells →apoptosis)

● CD4 (also known as helper T cells) recognise molecules by

MHC class II molecules → effector cells → produces cytokines
 (molecules that can modify the development or function of
other cells) + expression of surface protein changes

● How do CD4 cells help?

○ 1) production of cytokines:
■ Cytokines can modulate functions of other immune cells (ex B cells)
■ B cell X exposure to cytokine = production of IgM, BUT, bc CD4 T cells
produce interleukin-4 or TGF beta, B cells can produce IgG or IgA
○ When CD4 helper cells are activated, they will express an unique protein
called CD40 ligand, which will interact with the CD40 (yes 40) molecules
■ B cells produce IgG instead of IgM
■ They are one of the most postent cytokine producers in the body and
produce:
● interferons, turmor necrosis factor, transforming growth factors,
lymphotoxin, interleykins
○ CD4+ Can also be modulated by cytokines
○ 2) cell-cell contact
Video 3:
● Clonal selection theory of lymphocytes
○ Antigen will select the B cell with right specificity for expansion → clonal
expansion → some will be effector cells (plasma cells), others memory cells
● Induction of specific immune response occurs in the secondary lymphoid organs and
include 3 phases:
○ Antigen recognition – takes 10 to 14 dates for B and T cells to be fully
activated
○ Surviving memory lymphocytes circulate in the body and mount Ag specific
response upon same antigen
○ When the patogen is eliminated, the effector cells undergo apoptosis
● How to avoid reactions against self antigens? Normally most of the antigens are
killed in primary lymphoid organs, but in secondary lympoint organs, can suppress
via apoptosis, cell inactivation (anergy) and suppression (suppressor cells)