Four Types of Adaptive Immunity

(few years - life long) (weeks - months) (few years - life long) (~3 weeks)

Natural = normal environmental exposure or delivery

Artificial = medical intervention
Active = immune response: antibody production and T cell activation
Passive = delivery of preformed antibodies, limited, not long term immunity, no
development of an immune response
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 Monomer or Bivalent Antibody molecule / Immunoglobulin
Antigen-binding site:
bind epitope here
Disulfide linkage

2 Heavy Chains
2 Light Chains
V = variable region, different
for each different antibody,
specific for one kind of
epitope

The Fc region can bind complement

to trigger complement fixation
C = constant region, same for all
when the antigen binding sites are
antibodies in the same class, 5 classes
bound to their epitopes
of antibodies total: IgG, IgM, IgA,
IgD, IgE

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 Classes of Antibodies/Immunoglobulins
IgG antibodies
• Monomer
• 80% of serum antibodies IgG
• Produced on second+ exposure
• In blood, lymph
• Can enter tissues, cross placenta
• Fix complement, enhance phagocytosis,
neutralize toxins & viruses, protects fetus
& newborn, antiserum

IgM antibodies
• Pentamer
• 5-10% of serum antibodies IgM
• Produced only on first exposure
• In blood, lymph, on B cells
• Fix complement, agglutinates antigens

IgA antibodies IgA

• Dimer
• 10-15% of serum antibodies
• In secretions
• Mucosal protection

IgD antibodies IgD

• Monomer
• 0.2% of serum antibodies
• Surface receptor on B cells
• Initiate humoral immune response by B cells

IgE antibodies
• Monomer
• 0.002% of serum antibodies IgE
• Surface receptor on mast cells and basophils
• Inflammation, allergic reactions;
lysis of parasitic worms

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 Activation and Clonal Selection of B cells
T-independent Antigen (Epitope tends to be polysaccharide, produces
weaker immune response than T-dependent Antigen)

1. IgD antibody receptor on B cell binds its specific antigen/epitope

2. B cell is activated and undergoes clonal selection: the B cell proliferates and differentiates
into two types of cell populations: Memory B cells and Plasma Cells
3. Plasma cells secrete antibodies specific for the original epitope (2000 antibody molecules
per second) for 3-5 days [Time from initial antigen binding to antibodies appearing in the
blood is 7-10 days] Antibodies bind to free antigens.
4. Upon second exposure to the same antigen/epitope, memory cells bind antigen and are
triggered to differentiate into plasma cells and secrete antibodies. [Time from initial
antigen binding to antibodies appearing in the blood is 2-5 days]
Memory cells = long term immunity
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Results of Antigen-Antibody Binding:
1. 6.

MAC

2. 5.
Antigen bound to IgE on Mast cells
triggers histamine release and

3. 4.

Macrophages
Eosinophils
NK cells

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 Class I MHC
Infected cell
Class I MHC is found on
all cell types and
displays all antigens that
are present in a cell, both
self and non-self.

Class II MHC is found

only on APCs and only
displays antigens that
have been endocytosed

Class II MHC
Antigen
Presenting Cell
(e.g. Macrophage, Dendritic Cell)

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 Activation of Helper T Cells

Class II

TH1
TH2

Defense against intracellular pathogens Defense against free pathogens

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 Activation of Cytotoxic T Cells

T cell

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 Activation and Clonal Selection of B cells
T-dependent Antigen
(Epitope tends to be protein, produces stronger
immune response than T-independent Antigen)

1. B cell binds specific antigen in the

IgD receptor and internalizes it.
2. B cell transfers antigen to a Class
II MHC receptor and returns antigen
now bound to MHC back to the
surface of the cell. B cell is now
sensitized.
3. A TH2 cell specific for the antigen
recognizes and binds to the antigen
in the Class II MHC and becomes
activated.
4. The activated TH2 cell secretes
cytokines on the B cell.
5. Cytokines activate the B cell.
6. The activated B cell undergoes
clonal selection producing Memory
B and Plasma cells.
7. Plasma cells secrete antibodies
that are specific for the original
antigen

*Most B cell activation is by the T-dependent mechanism (and most antigens/epitopes are
protein type molecules). This produces a much stronger immune response than the T-
independent mechanism.

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 Body Defense Summary
Non-specific defenses and the immune response are integrated:
both function together for overall defense

Defense against Defense against free

intracellular pathogens pathogens

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