Introduction to Immunology and
the Immune System
Dr. Rayan Zaidan
Introduction to Immunology and the Immune System
Objectives
1-Define immunity
2-Explain the components of the Innate
(non-specific) immune system & the Adaptive
(specific) immune system
3-List the characteristics of innate & adaptive
immunity
4-Summarize the main differences between
active & passive immunity
Immunology
•IMMUNITY
-State of increase resistance to disease
-The sum of all naturally occurring
defense mechanisms to protect human
from infectious agents and their
products
Defensive Mechanisms include:
1- Innate immunity (Natural or Non-Specific)
2- Acquired immunity ( Adaptive or Specific )
Innate immunity
1- Mechanical Barriers :
a- Intact skin & Mucous membrane
b- Mucous
* Beating cilia of epithelium of respiratory
tract.
* Coughing & Sneezing
c- Shedding of cells
(Mechanical Cleansing Action)
d- Flushing action of saliva, tears, urine….etc
e- Vomiting, peristalsis, diarrhea…..etc
2- Humoral (Chemical) Barriers
• Tears ----------- Lysozyme
• Saliva ---------- Enzymes
• Skin ---------- Sebaceous secretions
• Gastric acid
• Bile acids
• Trypsin
• Spermin
• Lactoferrin, Transferrin
• Complement components-----(Lytic) System
• Interferons (IFN) :
proteins that are not anti-viral by themselves,
but induce an anti-viral state in uninfected cells.
-Types of interferons:
1- Alpha-IFN-----Secreted by Macrophages(viral
infected cell)
2- Beta-IFN------Secreted by Fibroblasts
3- Gamma-IFN—Secreted by T-lymphocytes
Protective action of Interferons:
1- Anti viral proteins
2- Enhancing T- cell activity
3- Activating Macrophages
4- Increasing the cytotoxic action of Natural
Killer cells (NK).
3- Cellular Barriers:
A- Phagocytes
Specialized cells for capture, Ingestion and destruction of
invading microorganisms
• Polymorphoniclear leucocytes, mainly neutrophils:
granulocytes circulate in blood
• Mononuclear cells
- Monocytes in blood------- Macrophages in tissue
- Histocytes in connective tissues
-Kupffer in liver
- Splenocytes in spleen
B- Natural killer (NK)
Definition: Large granular lymphocytes
Innate cytotoxic lymphocytes
Source : Bon marrow precursors
Location : 10% or 15% of lymphocytes in peripheral blood
1% or 2% of lymphocytes in spleen
Tumor cells (immune surveillance)
Function : Cytotoxic for Viral infected cells
Bacterial, fungal, parasitic infection
Physical factors contribute to innate immunity:
1- Inflammatory process
2- Body temperature
3- Hormonal balance:
-Increased susceptibility in endocrine disorders like
DM.
- Corticosteroids --- depress host’s resistance
(anti-inflammatory & anti phagocytic effect)
4- Age
low levels of immunity at the 2 extremes
of life.
• Fetus/ Neonates - immature immune
system
• Old age - deteriorated immune system,
physical abnormalities
Characteristics of Innate immunity
• Pre-exist
• Non adaptive
• Non specific
• No Memory
Acquired (Adaptive) Immunity
• Adaptive (Specific) immunity is capable of
Recognizing & Selectively eliminating of
foreign microorganisms ,cells & molecules.
• TWO Interrelated & Interdependent
Mechanisms:
1- Humoral Immunity
- (antibody mediated response)
- B-cells (Bone marrow derived)
2- Cellular Immunity
- (cell mediated immunity)
- T-cells (Thymus-derived)
Characteristics of Adaptive Immunity
1- Ability to distinguish self from foreign
2- Antigenic specificity
3- Immunologic memory
Primary & secondary immune response
4- Diversity
The human immune system is capable of
producing a vast number of different antibody
molecules, each with its own specificities.
Primary Immune reaction. Secondary Immune
reaction.
* There is lag phase *No lag phase
*IgM class *Ab of IgG class
*Low affinity Ab *Ab of high affinity
*Ab titer is low *Ab titer is high
*The host exposure for the *Host exposure for the 2nd
1st time so no memory cell time there is memory cell
*Ab titer decline rapidly *Ab titer decline slowly
Acquired immunities are not always
protective
Immune Response:
•Inappropriate------ Allergy (e.g. Hay fever)
•Directed against body’s own constituents---
Autoimmune diseases (e.g. SLE, Rh. Arthritis)
Acquired or Adaptive immunity
• Active immunity is a resistance induced after
contact with foreign antigen.
• Passive immunity is a resistance based on
antibodies preformed in another host.
Active acquired immunity
a-Natural active acquired immunity :
- Following clinical or subclinical infections
Ex. measles or mumps, in which immunity is
long lasting
b- Artificial active acquired immunity :
- Following vaccination with live or killed
infectious agents or their products
Passive acquired immunity
a-Naturally passive acquired immunity
Antibodies are passed through placenta
to the fetus (IgG),IgA Breast milk
b- Artificially passive acquired immunity
The injection of already prepared antibodies,
such as gamma globulin ,antitoxin
Antigens & Immunogens
• Antigens are molecules that react with
antibodies, whereas immunogens are
molecules that induce an immune response.
• Immunogens have the capacity to stimulate
the immune system to produce an immune
elements & react specifically to it.
SUMMARY
• The immune system has TWO arms, innate &
adaptive.
• The innate arm is a barrier system consisting of
Mechanical, Humoral, cellular, &physiological
components.
• The innate arm is present intrinsically, has limited
specificity & diversity, & is not enhanced by
repeated exposure.
• The adaptive arm consists of T & B lymphocytes &
antigen presenting cells.
• Adaptive immune responses are specific, diverse,
self-limiting, capable of self versus non-self
recognition, & display memory.
• The innate & adaptive arms interact with &
augment each other through soluble substances
such as complements, antibodies, & cytokines.
• An antigen or immunogen is a substance capable of
activating or generating an immune response.
• To be immunogenic, a substance must be
recognized as foreign & have chemical complexity
& sufficient size.
• Clinical infection produces following type of
immunity:
• Natural active
• Natural passive
• Artificial active
• Artificial passive
THANK YOU
