University

Zakho Medical College

of Zakho

Infection and Immunity module

Dr. Ibrahim Naqid

PhD Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
College of Medicine/ University of Zakho
https://staffportal.uoz.edu.krd/en/ibrahimnaqid
 Session 1:
Lecture 2: Component of immune system
09.09.2024

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CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM:
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Appreciate the common origins of the cells of the immune system from the bone marrow
• Describe in simple terms the microscopic appearances of the cells of the immune system
specifically:
∙ B and T lymphocytes
∙ Plasma cells
∙ Monocytes and macrophages
∙ Dendritic cells

Describe in simple terms other effector cells including:

∙ Neutrophil polymorphs
∙ Eosinophil polymorphs
∙ Basophils
∙ Mast cells

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Components of Immune system

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 Cells of the immune system

The cells responsible for both specific and nonspecific immunity are the white blood cells
(WBCs) called leukocytes. A leukocytes originate from stem cells in the bone marrow of the host.

Leukocytes can be divided into two groups:-

a) Granulocytes:-
• Contain granules; inclusions in their cytoplasm
• Usually have lobulated or segmented nuclei
• Basophils
• Eosinophils
• Neutrophils (Polymorphonuclear
leukocytes (PMN))
b) Agranulocytes:-
• Do not contain granules
• Do not have lobulated or segmented nuclei
• Monocytes
• Lymphocytes (T,B, NK)

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Leukocytes (White cells) with innate function:

Bone marrow Blood Tissues

Natural killer cell (type of lymphocyte)

Macrophage

Dendritic cell

differentiation

Dendritic cell

Mast cell

Differentiation = alteration of a cell to a different

form/cell type

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 Innate cell types

Natural killer
cell

Macrophage Antigen presenting

cells (APCs)

Dendritic cell

Granulocytes:
Contain intracellular stores of granules which
contain many enzymes and toxic substances
which when released very effectively kill
micro-organisms
Mast
cell
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 Lymphocytes
Major types of cell in the immune system are: Lymphocytes, Phagocytic and Dendritic cells

✔ All cells are derived from the bone marrow but T cells undergo a process of maturation in the
thymus gland.
✔ B and T cells circulate in the blood and through body tissues.
✔ B cells give rise to plasma cells which secrete immunoglobulins (Antibodies).

✔ Initially the lymphocyte is small, but after responding to antigen, it becomes larger. The
nuclear chromatin becomes less dense, and the volume of cytoplasm increases. It is then called
a lymphoblast.
✔ Some of them (CD4+; helper) secrete cytokines which act on other cells involved in the
immune response. Others (CD8; cytotoxic) are able to cause lysis of infected cells.

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Macrophages and dendritic cells
Macrophages are derived from the bone marrow and pass into the blood stream where they are
known as monocytes and then migrate into the tissues where they are known as macrophages.
They have a variety of functions in the immune response
• Phagocytosis
• Secretion of cytokines
• Antigen presentation

Dendritic cells can develop from monocytes. They are extremely potent in antigen presentation,
which play an important role in the regulation of the adaptive immune system.

The cells performing these various functions have differing microscopic appearances but they are
grouped together as the mononuclear phagocytic system.

Polymorphs and mast cells are also involved in the effector side of the immune response.
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 Lymphocytes
1. Lymphocytes are classified as B,
T, or natural killer (NK) cells.

2. The B and T cells are the only

cells that have the ability to
selectively recognize a specific
epitope.

3. B and T cells differ based on

their life history, surface
receptors, and behavior during
an immune response.

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 B Lymphocytes
1. The encounter of a B lymphocyte with the epitope leads to differentiation of most of
these lymphocytes into plasma cells.

2. This population of plasma cells secretes antibodies against the same epitope

3. In most cases, the activation of B cells requires the assistance of a subclass of T

lymphocytes known as T helper cells.

4. Not all activated B cells, however, become plasma cells; some remain as long-lived B
memory cells, which are able to react very rapidly to a second exposure to the same
epitope.

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 T Lymphocytes
1. Cells constitute 65–75% of blood lymphocytes. To recognize epitopes, all T cells
have on their surfaces a molecule called a T cell receptor (TCR).

2. In contrast to B cells, which recognize soluble antigens or antigens present on

cell surfaces, T lymphocytes recognize only epitopes (mostly small peptides) that
form complexes with special proteins on the cell surface of other cells

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 Types of T cells
1. Helper cells, which produce cytokines that promote differentiation of B cells into plasma
cells, activate macrophages to become phagocytic, activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes,
called CD4+ T cells.
2. Killer or Cytotoxic T cells are CD8+ and act directly against foreign cells or
virus-infected cells by cell lysis or apoptosis.

3. Regulatory T cells are CD4+CD25+ and play crucial roles in allowing immune
tolerance, maintaining unresponsiveness to self-antigens and suppressing excessive
immune responses.

4. Memory T cells: persists in the blood stream to protect against future infections
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 Natural Killer Cells
1. The natural killer lymphocytes lack the marker molecules characteristic of B and T
cells.

2. They comprise about 10–15% of the lymphocytes of circulating blood.

3. Their name derives from the fact that they attack virus-infected cells, transplanted
cells, and cancer cells without previous stimulation; for this reason they are
involved in what is called an innate immune response.

4. Kill pathogen infected cells rather than pathogens (similar to cytotoxic T

lymphocytes but do not require expression of MHC1 on target cells)
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Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs)
1. APCs are found in many tissues and constitute a heterogeneous population of
cells that includes dendritic cells, macrophages, and B lymphocytes., but are
also abundant in epidermis, where they are called Langerhans cells.

2. APCs present antigens to helper lymphocytes, are essential for triggering

and development of a complex immune response.

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Organs of the immune system

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 The anatomy of the immune system

∙ Primary Lymphoid organs

o Bone marrow gives rise to B lymphocytes
o Thymus gives T cell maturation of CD8+ and CD4+

∙ Secondary lymphoid organs

o Spleen, lymph nodes, Peyer’s patches

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Thymus
∙ Loular, contains APCs, cortex and medulla

• Thymus Enlarges during childhood but after puberty stars to

slowly shrinks
• Where ‘education’ and maturation occurs
o Supported by medullary epithelial cells

∙ B lymphocytes won’t activate, even on binding, until the T

helper cell gives the correct signals

∙ T helper cells wont activate until binding and correct signal

from the APC

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Lymph Nodes
• Small organs that filter out dead cells and antigen
• Lymph nodes are small bean shaped structures lying along the
course of lymphatics.
• The sites of lymph nodes is important for physical
examination of patients.

• Mature B cells travel to the lymph nodes and from germinal

centres with APCs (dendritic cells and macrophages)

∙ Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT)

▪ Areas in the gut wall where germinal centres can sit and activation
can occur
▪ Peyer’s Patches, Tonsils, lymphoid aggregates

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Spleen

∙ White pulp
o Lymphoid cells and germinal centres
o Like a big lymph node

∙ Red pulp
o Blood filtration – sponge like
o Eliminates aged and damaged reticulocytes and platelets

Two main functions of spleen: (1) acting as part of the immune Removal of the spleen
system and (2) as a filter. (splenectomy) may lead to
enhanced susceptibility to
infection especially by
Streptococcus pneumoniae.

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Any Question

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