Chapter 7
Adaptive Immunity
Adaptive Immunity (1 of 4)
Mobilized after external barriers have been
compromised and inflammation activated
Promotes processes against reinfection
Differences from inflammation
Inducible
Specific
Long-lived
Has memory
Adaptive Immunity (2 of 4)
Elements
Antigens
• Molecules on surface of microbes, infected cells, or
abnormal tissues
• Molecular targets of antibodies
Lymphocytes
• T cells—thymus derived
• B cells—bone marrow derived
Adaptive Immunity (3 of 4)
Humoral immunity
Antibodies circulating in blood
Bind to antigens on bacteria and viruses
Cellular immunity
T cells in blood and tissues
Defend against intracellular pathogens and
abnormal cells
Adaptive Immunity (4 of 4)
Active immunity
Develops after exposure to antigen
Long lived
Passive immunity
Preformed antibodies or T cells are administered
Temporary
Question 1
1. Which of the following terms describes
the type of immunity that occurs when preformed
antibodies transfer from donor
to recipient?
A. Active
B. Passive
C. Cellular
D. Memory
Note: No input is needed to proceed.
Question 1 Answer
Correct Answer: B
There are two types of adaptive immunity: passive and
active. Passive immunity occurs when preformed antibodies
are transferred from donor to recipient. An example is the
passage of maternal antibodies across the placenta to the
fetus. An individual produces active immunity after natural
exposure or immunization. Cellular, or cell-mediated,
immunity, occurs when effector T cells are formed in the
blood and tissues and defend against intracellular pathogens
and cancer cells. Memory cells are formed through both
cellular and humoral immunity, and they remember the
antigen. They respond more efficiently and effectively.
Antigens and Immunogens
Antigens
Bind with antibodies, receptors on T and B cells
Not necessarily immunogens
Immunogens
Bind to receptors AND induce immune response
All immunogens are antigens but not all antigens
are immunogens
Haptens
Become immunogenic after combining with larger
molecules
Clonal Diversity (1 of 3)
Production of large population of B and T
cells that can recognize almost any foreign
antigen
Primarily occurs in the fetus
Occurs in primary (central) lymphoid organs
Results in immunocompetent T and B cells
with capacity to react with antigens
Clonal Diversity (2 of 3)
B cell development:
Production, proliferation, differentiation in bone
marrow
Each cell responds to only one specific antigen
B-cell receptors (BCRs) recognize antigen
Clonal deletion or central tolerance
• Autoreactive B cells eliminated in bone marrow
Clonal Diversity (3 of 3)
T cell development:
The thymus is the central lymphoid organ of T cell
development
T cell receptors (TCRs) recognize antigen
Leave thymus, travel to and reside in secondary
lymphoid tissue as mature immunocompetent cells
Central tolerance
Antigen Receptors
Clonal Selection (1 of 4)
Second phase of immune response
Antigen processing and presentation
Antigen-processing (antigen-presenting) cells
Complex cellular interactions
Clonal Selection (2 of 4)
Initiated when T and B cells interact with an
antigen
Antigens presented on surface of APCs
Abnormal cells presented by major
histocompatibility complex (MHC)
Results:
Differentiation of B cells into active antibody-
producing cells (plasma cells)
Differentiation of T cells into effector cells, such as
T cytotoxic cells
Clonal Selection (3 of 4)
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
Glycoproteins on the surface of all human cells
(except RBCs)
Also referred to as human leukocyte antigens
(HLAs)
MHC class I
• Present endogenous (intracellular) antigens
MHC class II
• Present exogenous antigens
Clonal Selection (4 of 4)
Question 2
2. Urushiol, a toxin found in poison ivy, is an
example of an antigen that does not produce
an immune reaction.
A. True
B. False
Note: No input is needed to proceed.
Question 2 Answer
Correct Answer: A
Not all antigens are immunogens, and some
clinically important conditions arise when
particular antigens are not immunogenic. For
example, urushiol is a toxin found in poison ivy
and is a very small antigen but not
immunogenic.
Cellular Interactions in the Immune
Response
Intercellular collaborations resulting in the
production of effector cells and memory cells
Requires three complementary intracellular
signaling events:
Antigen-specific recognition through the TCR or
BCR complex
Activation of intercellular communication
Response to specific groups of cytokines
T-Helper (Th) Lymphocytes
APCs present antigens to Th cells
Th cell activation follows antigen binding
Subsets
Th1—help develop cell-mediated immunity (Tc
cells)
Th2—help develop humoral immunity (B cells)
Th17—secrete lymphokine, activate macrophages
Treg—limit immune response
Superantigens (SAGs)
Bind to the TCR and the MHC class II
molecules outside of their normal antigen-
specific binding sites
Activate a large population of T-lymphocytes
regardless of antigen specificity
Induce excessive production of cytokines
Cause systemic inflammatory reaction
Fever, low blood pressure, and potentially shock
T-Cytotoxic (Tc) Cells (1 of 2)
Reacts with antigens on virus-infected or
cancerous cells
Develops into Tc effector cell that can destroy
abnormal cells
T-Cytotoxic (Tc) Cells (2 of 2)
B-Cell Clonal Selection (1 of 2)
When an immunocompetent B cell
encounters an antigen for the first time, B
cells with specific BCRs are stimulated to
differentiate and proliferate
A differentiated B cell becomes a plasma cell
Plasma cells produce antibodies
B Cell Clonal Selection (2 of 2)
Memory Cells
B and T cells differentiate into large
population of memory cells
Long lived
Remain inactive until subsequent antigen
exposure
Do not require further differentiation so will rapidly
becoming plasma cells or effector T cells
Antibodies (1 of 2)
Immunoglobulins (antibodies)
Classes:
• IgG
• IgA
• IgM
• IgE
• IgD
Characterized by differences in structure and
function
Antibodies (2 of 2)
Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
Most abundant class (80%-85%)
Accounts for most of the protective activity
against infections
Transported across the placenta to protect
newborn child
Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
IgA molecules are found predominantly in the
blood
IgA-2 (secretory IgA) molecules are found
predominantly in bodily secretions (most
important)
Dimer anchored by a J chain and a “secretory”
piece
Secretory piece may function to protect IgAs
against enzyme degradation
Immunoglobulin M (IgM)
Largest of the immunoglobulins
Pentamer stabilized by a J chain
First antibody produced during the primary
response to an antigen
Synthesized early in neonatal life
Immunoglobulin D (IgD)
Low concentration in the blood
Function as one type of B cell antigen
receptor
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) (1 of 2)
Low concentration in the blood
Defense against parasitic infections
Initiates an inflammatory reaction to attract
eosinophils
When produced against innocuous
environmental antigens, they are a common
cause of allergies
Fc portions of IgEs are bound to mast cells
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) (2 of 2)
Class Switch
Change in antibody production from one
class to another
B cells start off producing IgM and IgD
During clonal selection, B cell can switch to
secrete IgG, IgA, or IgA
Population of plasma cells capable of producing
many antibody classes is created
Molecular Structure (1 of 2)
Antigen-binding fragment (Fab)
Recognition sites (receptors) for antigenic
determinants
Sometimes called variable region
Crystalline fragment (Fc)
Responsible for biologic function
Polypeptide chains (4)
Light chains (2) and heavy chains (2)
Molecular Structure (2 of 2)
Antigen-Antibody Binding
Antigenic determinant (epitope)
Area of the antigen recognized by an antibody
Antigen-binding site (paratope)
Matching portion on the antibody
The antigen fits into the binding site of the
antibody like a “key into a lock”
Held in place by noncovalent chemical interactions
Antibody Functions
Antibody functions:
Direct—through action of antibody alone
• Neutralization
• Agglutination
• Precipitation
Indirect—requiring activation of other components
• Inflammation
• Phagocytosis
• Complement
Direct and Indirect
Functions of Antibodies
Secretory (Mucosal)
Immune System (1 of 2)
Lymphoid tissues that protect the external
surfaces of the body
Antibodies present in tears, sweat, saliva,
mucus, and breast milk
IgA is the dominant immunoglobulin
Small amounts of IgG and IgM are present
Secretory (Mucosal)
Immune System (2 of 2)
Primary and Secondary Responses
(1 of 2)
Primary response
Initial exposure
Latent period or lag phase
• Clonal selection is occurring
After 5 to 7 days, an IgM antibody for a specific
antigen is detected
An IgG response equal or slightly less follows the
IgM response
Primary and Secondary Responses
(2 of 2)
Secondary response
Subsequent exposure to same antigen
More rapid
Larger amounts of antibody are produced
Rapidity is the result of memory cells that require
less further differentiation
IgM may be transiently produced, but IgG is
produced in considerably greater numbers
Other Cells
Natural killer (NK) cells
Complement Tc cell mechanisms
Lymphokine-secreting T cells
Amplify inflammation
T-regulatory lymphocytes
Provide peripheral tolerance
Suppress immune response
Pediatric Immunity
Fetus has sufficient IgM but deficient IgG, IgA
responses
Maternal antibodies provide protection within
the fetal circulation and during the first
months of life
Immunologically immature when born with
deficiencies in antibody production,
phagocytic activity, and complement activity
Aging and Immune Function
Decreased T-cell activity
Thymic size is 15% of its maximum size
Thymic hormone production drops, as
does the organ’s ability to mediate T-cell
differentiation
Decreased antibody response to antigens