Biotechnology and Pharmacology Course Topic 02

CELLS AND ORGANS

OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEMS
A/Prof. Le Van Dong MD., PhD
Former Deputy Head, Department of Immunology
Vietnam Military Medical University
Tel: 0989058710; Email: levandong@vmmu.edu.vn

EDUCATION
RESEARCH
INDUSTRY/ TREATMENT

Aims

Know origins and places of

maturation, differentiation process,
specific surface markers and
functions of each immune cells.

Understand
components
and
functions of the two types of
lymphoid organs.

Haematopoiesis

Haematopoiesis

Blood forming process

Take place in bone marrow

Strictly controlled process

To give rise to all blood and immune cells

All blood cell types originate from a single

hematopoietic stem cell (hSC)

hSC transplantation is common practice to cure

diseases related to blood forming disorders

2. IMMUNE CELLS

EDUCATION
RESEARCH
INDUSTRY/ TREATMENT

2.1. B lymphocyte
Origin: Bone marrow
Maturation: Bone marrow

B cell surface markers

Surface immunoglobulin (SIg) to

serve as B cell receptor (BCR) for
antigen.
Each

cell has thousands of SIg

molecules on the surface. All of them
have the same specificity, they can bind
to ONLY ONE structure called antigenic
determinant or epitope.
The specificity is defined by gene
arrangement.

CD19: to define it is B cell.

CD molecule

CD: Cluster of Differentiation.

CD is unique structure, usually at a cells surface,

to which specific antibodies bind.

By knowing the CDs we can distinguish among

cell types (who is who).

CD = Cell Determining molecule.

CD was first applied for human leukocyte antigen,

then extended to other cells.

B lymphocyte differentiation

Stem cell

Pro-B

Pre-B

Immature B

Mature B

Peripheral lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen etc.)

Abbas A. K and Lichtman A. H
Basic Immunology 3rd Ed Saunders 2011

B lymphocyte differentiation

During differentiation (maturation) process, genes are

rearranged to form molecules that contribute to the
functions of the cell.

B cell function:
produce antibody

2.2. T lymphocyte
Origin: Bone marrow
Maturation: Thymus

Kuby Immunology 5th Ed Freeman and Company 2003

T cell markers

CD2:
Involve

in cell signaling

Natural

receptor for sheep

red blood cell

rosette assay for

determination of T
lymphocyte

T cell Surface markers

CD3:
Specific
Part

for T lymphocyte

of T cell receptor (signaling)

T cell receptor for antigen (TCR):

Many molecules, same specificity

Some cells has, either:

CD4

molecule, helper T cell (TH)

(target of HIV)

CD8,

cytotoxic T cell (TC)

Abbas A. K and Lichtman A. H
Basic Immunology 3rd Ed Saunders 2011

B cell and T cell receptors

Abbas A. K and Lichtman A. H

Basic Immunology 3rd Ed
Saunders 2011

Similar in structures
Unique specificity - both formed by gene arrangement

Abbas A. K and Lichtman A. H

Basic Immunology 3rd Ed Saunders 2011

T cell differentiation

Bone marrow

Thymus

T cell differentiation

During differentiation
(maturation) process,
genes are rearranged to
form molecules that
contribute to the
functions of the cell.
Some molecules
appear, some disappear
during the maturation of
the cell

T cell functions

3 types with distinct functions:

TH

helps B lymphocyte to produce

antibody; macrophage to kill
bacteria.

TC

kills (by cytotoxicity)

virusinfected cell and cancer cell.

Note:

some TH cell regulate

immune response and called
regulate T cell (Treg)

TH helps B lymphocyte to produce antibodies

Without T helper, B cell

can not produce (or very
little) antibody.

With T helper, B cell can

produce more antibodies
(types and quantity of
antibodies).

TH helps macrophage to kill bacteria

Without T helper,
macrophage can eat the
bacteria but can not kill
them.

With T helper,
macrophage can kill the
bacteria which have been
eaten but survive inside
the cell).

OK,
macrophage
kill them!

Tc kills virus-infected cell and

cancer cell

Figure 1-25

TH and TC work together: TH calls more TC

come to kill microbe

Treg controls (regulates) the immune response

(stop the immune response, do not harm to body)

T cells markers and functions

CD2:

signaling

CD3:

signaling, part of TCR

cell receptor: to recognize antigen

Either:

CD4 (TH): helper T cell

CD8 (TC): cytotoxicity T cell

2.3. Natural killer

(NK) cell

NK cell kills virusinfected

cells
and
cancer cells. Person
who lack of NK cells
has higher risk of
cancer
and
viral
infection.

NK produces IFN- to
activate macrophage
to kills more bacteria.
Abbas A. K and Lichtman A. H
Basic Immunology 3rd Ed Saunders 2011

NK cell kills virus-infected cell and cancer cell

Notes

B and T lymphocytes are professional cells

of the immune system. They not only react
wisely (specifically) to different microbes
which they encounter but also memorize
them, as such they can react faster and more
effectively when meeting them again.

Vaccination is the way to train by exercise

(practicing to fight against vaccine) for
memorizing the pathogen, that provide the
body protection when the real pathogen enter
the body.

NK cell has no immunological memory, they

just kill the bodys modified cells.

2.4. Phagocytes

Phagocyte eats microbe and provide signals

to initiate an immune response

2.5. Basophil and Mast cell

Mast cells
membrane.

are

under

skin

and

mucous

Basophils are in the blood.

Both have receptor for IgE antibody on the

surface of the cell.

Involve in allergic reaction.

Mast cell

Basophil

2.6. Eosinophil

2.7. Antigen presenting cell - APC

APCs include:
Macrophage
Dendritic

cell
B lymphocyte

All have ability to capture antigen, process them

into small peptide and presenting those
fragments to surface of the cell for T cell to
recognize them.
There are MHC class II molecule on the surface
as tool for antigen presentation.

APCs

3. LYMPHOID ORGANS
Two type of lymphoid organs:

Central/primary lymphoid organs

Peripheral/secondary lymphoid organs

EDUCATION
RESEARCH
INDUSTRY/ TREATMENT

Lymphoid organs/tisue

Central/primary
lymphoid organs:

Peripheral/secondary
lymphoid organs:

where the lymphocyte

growth without the
stimulation by antigen

Where lymphocyte
encounter antigen and
growth strongly after
stimulation by antigen.

3.1. Central lymphoid organs

Thymus and Bone marrow

Thymus educates pre-T lymphocyte

to mature T lymphocyte

Maturation process of lymphocytes

Maturation/differentiation process of
lymphocytes in central lymphoid organs

Bone marrow and thymus stromal cells educate prelymphocyte to mature lymphocyte.

The lymphocyte undergo selection processes:

Positive selection: keep the functioning ones

Negative selection: remove the betrayer

The lymphocyte learn to differentiate which is belong to

the body own (self) and which is not (non-self). The cell
does not allow to react with self ones.

Only GOOD cells are allowed to mature.

3.2. Peripheral lymphoid organs

3.2.1. Lymph node

To capture antigens which enter body through skin and
mucous membrane

3.2.2. Spleen
To capture antigens which enter
blood stream

3.2.3. Lymphoid tissue in the mouth

To capture antigens which enter mouth area

3.2.4. Lymphoid tissue in the gut

To capture antigens which enter through the gut

4. Circulation of lymphocytes

Abbas A. K and Lichtman A. H

Basic Immunology 3rd Ed Saunders 2011

Circulation of lymphocytes

Block of lymphatic vein

caused by parasite
Wuchereria bancrofti

SUMMARY

Lymphocytes
B

(bone marrow), produce antibodies

T (thymus)

TCD4+: helper T cell (TH)

TCD8+: cytotoxicity T cell (TC)

Other cells: phagocytes, APCs, basophil and

mast cell, eosinophil

Lymphoid organs
Central:

Bone marrow, thymus

Peripheral: lymph nodes, spleen, GALT

Review Questions
1.

Origin, surface markers, differentiation

process and functions of B lymphocyte?

2.

Origin, surface markers, differentiation

process and functions of T lymphocyte?

3.

Functions of neutrophil, macrophage,

eosinophil, basophil, and mast cell.

4.

What are
properties.

5.

What are central/ primary and peripheral/

secondary lymphoid organs.

APCs

and

their

common