CELLS AND ORGANS OF THE

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Components of the Immune

System

Cells originate in the bone marrow.

Arise from pluripotent hematopoietic
stem cells. (HSCs)
HSCs give rise to precursor cells which
are myeloid progenitors and common
lymphoid progenitors.
Myeloid progenitors give rise to
granulocytes, macrophages, dendritic
cells and mast cells.
Common lymphoid progenitors give rise
to lymphocytes, dendritic cells and NK
cells.
There are more myeloid progenitors in

Granulocytes or Polymorphonuclear
(PMN) Leukocytes
A group of white blood cells is collectively referred

to as granulocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes

(PMNs).
Granulocytes are composed of three cell types as
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Basophils
These cells are important in the removal of bacteria
and parasites from the body.
They engulf these foreign bodies and degrade them
using their powerful enzymes.

Neutrophils.
Neutrophils constitutes 50-70% of the circulating WBCs.
Circulate for 7-10 h prior to migration to tissue; live 2-4 days

in tissue.
They are first cell to arrive to the infection site.
It plays important role in inflammatory response.
Phagocytic and bactericidal.
Leukocytosis
Extravasation
Chemotactic factors

Eosinophils
Eosinophils constitutes 1-3 % of the circulating WBCs.
Important in anti-parasite defenses.
It presents Ag to T cell in body.
Release of contents in eosinophilic granules can damage the

parasite membrane.
Eosinophils are associated with allergic diseases.
The inappropriate release of their granule content can cause
host cell damage leading to airway remodeling (fibrosis) in
many cases.

BASOPHILS

MAST CELLS

BASOPHIL
Present only in the bloodstream, and represent <1% of circulating WBC.
They are non-phagocytic cells.
They play a major role in the allergic response.
They release their granules (containing histamine, serotonin, heparin,

prostaglandin, etc into the bloodstream following exposure to specific

allergens).

When an individual is exposed to an allergen, specific IgE is produced.

This IgE binds to the surface of basophils.

Upon re-exposure to the allergen, the allergen binds to IgE on the surface of

basophils resulting in degranulation.

MAST CELLS
Mast cells are released from the bone marrow as

undifferentiated precursor cells and do not differentiate until

they enter the tissues
(skin, connective tissue, mucosal epithelium, etc.)

Mast cells bear Fc receptors for IgE (FceRs) and contain

cytoplasmic granules.

Play a very important role in the development of allergic

response.

They produce a variety of cytokines.

TNF is produced and stored within the cytoplasm of the

mast cell, and it can be released quickly following mast cell

activation.

NATURAL KILLER CELLS

o NK cells constitutes 5-10% of lymphocytes in human peripheral
blood .
o They play important role in cell cytotoxicity.
o They also play important role in innate immune response.

Monocytes vs M

Monocytes Circulate in the blood.

Macrophages Circulate in the tissues.

Macrophages are derived from the bone

marrow and have a variety of functions in
the immune response.
Phagocytosis.
Secretion of cytokines

DENDRITIC CELLS

Originate in the bone marrow

Function as antigen presenting
cells (APC).
Four types of dendritic cells are
Langerhans cells
Interstitial dendritic cells
Myeloid cells
Lymphoid dendritic cells

Organs Of Immune
System
Primary Lymphoid Organs
Bone Marrow and Thymus
Maturation Site
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
Spleen, lymph nodes,
MALT (mucosal associated lymph tissue)
GALT (gut associated lymph tissue)
Trap antigen, APC, Lymphocyte Proliferation

Bone marrow.
Located in the middle of your bones,
most specifically your vertebrae,
pelvic, and leg bones, it generates T
cells, B cells, and macrophages cells
that travel throughout the body in the
blood and tissue fluids.

THYMUS

THYMUS

A bilobed organ located above heart near

throat
15-20 g at birth grows up rapidly for first
two years -40g at puberty followed by
involution
DiGeorge Syndrome congenital birth
defect lack of thymus absence of T cell
mediated immunity
Each lobe many lobules by fibrous
septae outer cortex and inner medulla
Cortex tightly packed contains
immature thymocytes

SPLEEN

PEYERS PATCHES
A

Swiss anatomist, Johann Peyer, noticed that

embedded in the villi-covered cells that line the small
intestine are patches of smooth cells.
Peyer's patches have high endothelial venules
through which lymphocytes can enter, and they are
outgoing lymphatics that drain lymph away from
these tissues. There are no incoming lymphatics that
bring lymph into Peyer's patches
Smooth cell that crowns the Peyer's patch the one
that doesn't have "hairs" (villi) on it is called an "M"
cell.
M cell is a specialized cell that transports antigen from
the interior (lumen) of the intestine into the Peyer's
patch.