IMMU2101

2/3/15 Notes

Theme 1: Basic Concepts in Immunology

Lecture 1: What Is the Immune System?
Learning Objectives
This lecture provides the foundation for the lectures that follow and is designed to introduce
you to some of the key features of the immune system
Learning Outcomes:
To know what is meant by the terms: - immunity (resistance to disease),
- The immune system (A collection of cells,
molecules & tissues
that mediate resistance to infections & eliminates
tumours)
To be able to recall & use unfamiliar immunological terms & concepts
To know where the immune system is located
To recall the name & function of the key cells (especially lymphocytes) and molecules (e.g.
cytokines) that
make up the immune system
To be able to describe specific anatomical features as well as the function of the primary and
secondary
lymphoid organs
To understand what antigens are and that different lymphocytes respond to different types
of antigens
based on their biochemistry
To know that there are 2 different types of adaptive immune responses
- Cell mediated immune responses (mediated by T
cells)
- Humoral Immune Responses (mediated by B cells &
antibody)
Immune system: Cells and tissues that mediate resistance to infections and reduce tumours
Immunology: Resistance to disease Specifically infectious diseases that are caused by
Bacterial infections
Viral infections
Fungal infections
Parasitic infections
Congenital (primary) immune deficiency patients who lack cells of immune system
Acquired (secondary) immune deficiency patients who have a disease, which destroys the cells which protect
the immune system e.g. HIV infections
The immune system is everywhere gastrointestinal, digestive, cardiovascular etc
Immune cells are scattered around the body, and migrate while ones which dont really move around and stay
consistently in one part of the body are the resident cells

The Anatomy of the Immune System

Physical and Chemical Barriers Epithelial cells of skin, gut, respiratory tract
Secretions (sweat, ear wax and tears), mucus in the nose, trachea and gut
Urine and low stomach pH
The cells and molecules of the immune system move across most organ systems in the body by travelling via the
blood vessels and the lymphatic vessels. Immune cells originate from the bone marrow stem cells, where they will
mature, while others will leave and mature in other central or peripheral sites.
Central sites often refer to lymphoid tissues or lymphoid organs:
Primary lymphoid organs Bone marrow, Thymus
Secondary/Generative lymphoid organs Spleen, lymph node, mucosal and other lymphoid tissue
Peripheral sites refer to all other tissues and systems Skin, liver, heart etc

There are two main types of Lymphocytes

B lymphocytes: B because they were discovered in the bursor of Fabricus
T lymphocytes: T because they mature in the thymus
Helper T cell (TH)
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)

B Lymphocytes
Derived from common lymphoid pregenitors in bone marrow, where they undergo maturation to form part of the

IMMU2101

2/3/15 Notes
humoral immune response main function of the humoral immune system is to secrete antibodies (which are
proteins which bind to the extracellular antigens

CD4+ T Cells
Helper T Cells (TH cells) are characterised by their surface expression of the CD4 molecule (CD4 + + T cells)
Help other cells of the immune system by releasing cytokines or via membrane bound molecules
Different types of TH cells exist with specialised functions some CD4+ T cells suppress/regulate the immune
response rather than activate the immune response

CD8+ T Cells
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are characterised by their surface expression of the CD8 molecule (CD8++ T cells)
Cyto (cell) toxic (killer) kills their target cells in a highly specific way controlled killing
CTLs get help from CD4+ T cells which give them instructions on the target
CTLs play a key role in viral infections and anti-tumour immunity
Antigens are substances that induce an immune response (they are immunogenic) e.g. proteins, carbohydrates,
lipids, chemical haptens. Antigenspecific receptors on lymphocytes bind small parts of these molecules. A few amino
acids or sugars only (these are called antigenic determinants or EPITOPES the part of an antigen that is
recognised by the immune system particularly B and T cells to evoke antibody formation)

Cytokines
Proteins that are produced and secreted by many different cell types
They can modulate inflammatory and immune reactions by Activate or potentiate
Suppress or inhibit
Cytokines are a principal mediator of communication between immune cells
Cytokines can target cells in an: Autocrine manner (acting on the cell that produced the cytokine)
Paracrine manner (acting on neighbouring cells)
Endocrine manner (acting on distant cells or systematically)

Bone Marrow and Thymus Primary Lymphoid Organs

Immature lymphocytes Do not have antigen specific receptors
Unable to respond to foreign antigens
Found in primary lymphoid tissues (bone marrow and thymus)
Mature lymphocytes Have functional antigen-specific receptors
Can respond to foreign antigens
Found in secondary lymphoid tissues (lymph nodes, spleen)
Found in the peripheral tissues
Summary: The immune system is a collection of cells, molecules and tissues that mediate resistance to infections and
eliminate tumours. There are two major types of immune responses innate and adaptive.
Although the immune system can be found everywhere there are specific sites for generation and
activation called lymphoid organs.
Primary lymphoid tissues (bone marrow and thymus)
Secondary lymphoid tissues (lymph nodes, spleen)