TERMS USED UNDER IMMUNITY

Immunity: The ability to be resistant to injury, particularly by

: poisons, foreign proteins and invading parasites, due to the
presence of antibodies.

Antigen: A substance, that when introduced into the tissues or blood activates the immune system which is induced to
form antibodies. The antibodies are specific to the antigen and react with it to make it harmless.

Antibody: A protein produced by certain cells in the body in the presence of a specific antigen. The antibody combines
with that antigen to neutralise, inhibit or destroy it.

Immunoglobulin: An antibody synthesised by plasma cells derived from B-lymphocytes in response to the presence of
a specific antigen. Immunoglobulins are of five kinds (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE).

The immune system: This consists of a number of lymphoid organs linked by lymphatic vessels and capillaries. Examples
of lymphoid organs are the thymus gland (found above and behind the heart in children), spleen, tonsils, bone marrow
and the lymph nodes (found extensively around the body e.g. in the armpit, groin, neck, near the
lungs, in the gut and urinogenital system). The lymphoid organs house billions of lymphocytes which are responsible for
identifying and eliminating infectious parasites.

Lymphocytes: Large lymphocytes are formed from stem cells in the bone marrow. The B-lymphocytes make antibodies
(humoral response) and are found in the lymphoid organs (except thymus). The Tlymphocytes develop in the thymus, and
are concerned not only with cellular immunity but also with the regulation of the humoral response by the B-lymphocytes.

Phagocytes: (they ingest and digest pathogens and infected cells) Cells e.g. neutrophils and eosinophils which carry
out phagocytosis (the ingestion and destruction of microbes and other particulate matter). The cells can wander around
the body by amoeboid action and will congregate in huge numbers at a site of infection in order to engulf any microbial
material. Phagocytes are attracted to sites of infection by chemotaxis.

The clonal selection theory: At birth the lymphoid system is thought to contain as many as one hundred million (10 8)
different clones of small lymphocytes, each one committed by the shape of its antigen receptors to recognise just one
antigen grouping. Each clone consists of less than a hundred cells but there are more than enough clones to
recognise all the different antigen groupings that might be encountered throughout life. (A clone is a population of
genetically identical cells formed by mitosis). Thus if the lymphocytes encounter a particular antigen only a few cells (one
clone) will recognise it and respond.

MEANING OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS

Origin of white blood cells.

HLA - human leukocyte associated antigen

MHC – Major Histocompatibility Complex

Ig – Immunoglobulins

Origin of white blood cells

Monocytes
They are the largest type of leukocyte and
can differentiate into……………………………………………….

They engulf bacteria by endocytosis and digest them inside phagosomes.

Monocytes and macrophages can live for several months
are inactive cells which circulate in the blood. They eventually leave the blood, often as
the result of encountering chemical signals indicating that bacteria or viruses are present. As
monocytes mature, they develop more RER, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes.
When they leave the blood they become macrophages. They engulf bacteria by endocytosis and
digest them inside phagosomes. Monocytes and macrophages can live for several months.

Monocytosis
Monocytosis is the state of excess monocytes in the peripheral blood. It may be indicative of
various disease states. Examples of processes that can increase a monocyte count
include:chronic inflammation, stress response, Cushing's syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism),
immune-mediated disease, granulomatous disease, atherosclerosis, necrosis,red blood
cell regeneration, viral fever, sarcoidosis.
Neutrophil:

Neutrophils. A type of immune cell that is one of the first cell types to travel to the site of
an infection.
Neutrophils help fight infection by ingesting microorganisms and releasing enzymes that
kill the microorganisms. A neutrophil is a type of white blood cell, a type of granulocyte,
and a type of phagocyte.
Basophils
appear in many specific kinds of inflammatory reactions, particularly those that cause
allergic symptoms.Basophils contain anticoagulant heparin, which prevents blood from
clotting too quickly. They also contain the vasodilator histamine, which promotes blood
flow to tissues.
Eosinophils are a type of disease-fighting white blood cell. This condition most often
indicates a parasitic infection, an allergic reaction or cancer. You can have high levels
ofeosinophils in your blood (blood eosinophilia) or in tissues at the site of an infection or
inflammation (tissueeosinophilia).
Action of PHAGOCYTES

The phagocytes include many types of white blood cells (such as neutrophils,
monocytes, macrophages, mast cells, and dendritic cells) move by a method
called chemotaxis.
PHAGOCYTOSIS

ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELLS

CYTOKINES