The Immune System

Department of Histology & Embryology

Zhao Hui
[email protected]
Introduction
Components
Function
Mechanisms
of Immunity

Macrophage
Structural components of the immune system
Immune cell
Lymphocyte
Antigen presenting cell
Plasma cell
Granulocyte
Immune tissue ( Lymphatic tissue )
Diffuse lymphoid tissue
Lymphoid nodule
Immune organ ( Lymphatic organ )
Central lymphoid organ
Peripheral lymphoid organ
Lymphocyte
Small lymphocyte
Diameter: 6 ~ 8m
Medium - sized lymphocyte
Diameter: 9 ~ 12m
Large lymphocyte
Diameter: 13 ~ 20m
Lymphocyte

Medium - sized lymphocyte (Left) & Small lymphocyte (Right)
Lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
Thymus dependent lymphocyte (T cell)
Helper cell (Th cell)
Cytotoxic cell (Tc cell)
Memory cell
Bone marrow dependent lymphocyte (B cell)
Natural killer cell (NK cell)
Lymphocyte
T Cell
B Cell
NK Cell
Structural Components of the immune system
Immune cell
Lymphocyte
Antigen presenting cell (APC)
Plasma cell
Granulocyte
Immune tissue ( Lymphatic tissue )
Diffuse lymphoid tissue
Lymphoid nodule
Immune organ ( Lymphatic organ )
Central lymphoid organ
Peripheral lymphoid organ
Lymphatic tissue
Diffuse lymphatic tissue
Postcapillary venule
Lymphatic nodule
Primary lymphoid nodule
Secondary lymphoid nodule
Germinal center
Diffuse lymphoid tissue & Lymphoid nodule

Postcapillary venule

Lymphoid nodule
: Afferent lymphatic vessels
: Subcapsular sinus
D : Dark zone
L : Light zone
C : Cap

Lymphatic organ
Central lymphatic
organ
Thymus
Bone marrow
Peripheral lymphatic
organ
Lymph node
Spleen
Tonsil
Thymus
Structure of the thymus
Capsule
Interlobular septum
Parenchyma
Thymic lobule
Cortex ---- Dark staining
Medulla ---- Light staining
Thymus



Capsule Cortex Medulla
Thymus
Structure of the thymus
Reticular connective tissue
Epithelial reticular cell
Thymus cortex
Thymus epithelial cell
(epithelial reticular cell)
Subcapsular epithelial cell
Nurse cell
Interdigitating dendritic cell
Thymocyte
Thymus matrix cell
Thymus
Cortex
Medulla
Subcapsular epithelial cell
Interlobular septum
Thymocyte
Interdigitating dendritic cell
Interdigitating dendritic cell
Medullary epithelial cell
Thymic corpuscle epithelial cell
Nurse cell
Macrophage
Thymus
E: Epithelial
reticular cell
T: Thymocyte
Thymus medulla
Thymus epithelial cell
Medullary epithelial cell
Thymic corpuscle epithelial cell
Thymic corpuscle ( or Hassalls corpuscle )
Mature thymocyte
Macrophage
Thymus
Cortex
Medulla
Subcapsular epithelial cell
Interlobular septum
Thymocyte
Interdigitating dendritic cell
Interdigitating dendritic cell
Medullary epithelial cell
Thymic corpuscle epithelial cell
Nurse cell
Macrophage
Thymus medulla

Thymic corpuscle
H: Thymic
corpuscle
or Hassall
corpuscle
Blood thymus barrier
Endothelium of continuous capillary
Basement membrane around endothelium
Peri-vessel space around capillary , which
contains macrophages
Basement membrane of epithelial
reticular cells
Processes of epithelial reticular cells
Blood thymus barrier
Processes of epithelial
reticular cells
Basement membrane
of epithelial reticular
cells
Macrophage
Lymphocyte
Endothelium of
continuous capillary
Cell junction
Basement membrane
around endothelium
Peri-vessel space
Blood thymus barrier
Function of the thymus
The thymus is the site of the terminal
differentiation and selection of T
lymphocytes.
The thymus produce several proteins that
act as growth factors to stimulate
proliferation and differentiation of T
lymphocytes.
Lymphoid organ
Central lymphoid
organ
Thymus
Bone marrow
Peripheral lymphoid
organ
Lymph node
Spleen
Tonsil
Lymph node
Lymph node

Parenchyma of the lymph node
Cortex
Superfacial cortex
Lymphoid nodule
Diffuse lymphoid tissue
Paracortex zone (Deep cortex unit)
Postcapillary venule
Cortical sinus
Subcapsular sinus
Peritrabecular sinus
Medulla
Medullary cord
Medullary sinus
Superfacial cortex and deep cortex unit of lymph node
Afferent lymphatic vessel
Lymphoid nodule
Deep cortex unit
Deep cortex unit
Medulla
(Central zone)
(Peripheral zone)
Superfacial cortex of the lymphoid nodule
: Afferent lymphatic vessels
: Subcapsular sinus
C : Cap (small lymphocytes)

L : Light zone (medium-sized
lymphocytes, reticular cells,
macrophages, follicular
dendritic cells)

D : Dark zone (newly-
transformed large lymphocytes)
Diffuse lymphatic tissue: virgin
B-lymphocytes
Lymphoid
nodule

Diffuse
lymphoid tissue


Paracortex zone
(Deep cortex unit)
-T lymphocytes
-Postcapillary venule




Medulla
Medullary cord
Medullary sinus
Superfacial
cortex
-B lymphocytes
Cortex of the lymph node

Paracortex zone of the lymph node

Postcapillary venule
Postcapillary venule in the lymph node
High endothelial cell
Lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
Reticular cell
Nuclear of endothelial cell
Postcapillary venule in the lymph node

Postcapillary venule lymphocyte
Postcapillary venule in the lymph node

Postcapillary venule lymphocyte
Cortex of the lymph node

Subcapsular sinus of the lymph node
Afferent lymphatic vessel
Macrophage
Macrophage
Lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
Endothelial cell
Valve
Endothelial cell
Endothelial cell
Capsule
Astroid
Endothelial cell
Reticular cell
Subcapsular sinus of the lymph node

Medulla of the lymph node

Medullary cord Medullary sinus Trabecula
-B lymphocytes
-plasma cells
-macrophages
Lymph circulation in the lymph node
Lymph circulation in lymph node
Afferent lymphatic vessels
Efferent lymphatic vessels
Subcapsular sinus Peritrabecular sinus
Medullary sinus
Cortex lymphoid tissue
Function of the lymph node
Production of lymphocytes
Filter lymphoid fluid
Participate in immune response
Participate in recirculation of lymphocytes
Recirculation of lymphocytes
Increase the probability of meeting antigens
Distribute information concerning antigens
Unite the different parts of the immune system
Memory T and B lymphocytes most actively
Germinal center
Medullary sinus
Afferent lymphatic vessel
Postcapillary
venule
Efferent
lymphatic
vessel
Arteriole
Lymphocytes in
artery system
Lymphoid organ
Central lymphoid
organ
Thymus
Bone marrow
Peripheral lymphoid
organ
Lymph node
Spleen
Tonsil
Spleen
Structure of the spleen
Blood circulation of the spleen
Function of the spleen
Structure of the spleen
Capsule trabecula
Parenchyma
White pulp
Periarterial lymphatic sheath
Splenic corpuscle
Marginal zone
Red pulp
Splenic cord
Splenic sinusoid
Spleen

Trabecula White pulp Red pulp
Structure of the spleen

S: Splenic sinus
Splenic corpuscle
Central artery
Germinative center
Red pulp of the spleen
Red pulp of the spleen
Splenic cord Splenic sinusoid
Red pulp of the spleen

Red pulp of the spleen
M: Macrophage
Splenic sinusoid

M: Macrophage
Splenic sinusoid
1. Endothelial cell 2. Red blood cell 3. Lymphocyte
4. Macrophage 5. Granulocyte 6. Reticular cell
Spleen
Structure of the spleen
Blood circulation of the spleen
Function of the spleen
Blood circulation of the spleen
S: Splenic sinus
Blood circulation of the spleen
Splenic arteries
Trabecular arteries Central arteries
Marginal zone sinuses Penicillar arteriole
Pulp venules
Trabecula vein Splenic vein
Splenic cord Splenic sinus
Spleen
Structure of the spleen
Blood circulation of the spleen
Function of the spleen
Function of the spleen
Blood filter
Macrophages in marginal zone and splenic
cord
Immunological defence
Cell-mediated and humoral immunity
Production of blood cells
In the fetus or under pathological conditions
Blood storage

Mononuclear phagocytic system, MPS
Definition
blood monocytes and their precursors, and two
differentiated cell populations derived from them:
macrophages and dendritic cells.
Constitutor
LiverKupffer cell
LungDust cell
Nerve tissueMicroglia
Osseous tissueOsteoclast
SkinLangerhans cell
Function: phagocytose
Summary
Master the classification and functions of
lymphocyte .
Understand mononuclear phagocytic system.
Master main structure and functions of thymus,
lymph node and spleen.
Understand the composition and main functions of
immune system.
Understand the structure and functions of diffuse
lymphoid tissue and lymphoid nodules