Immune System and Lymphoid

Structures
April 1 and 3, 2020
 Immune
System
and
Lymphoid
Structures
Lymphatic System
• Monitors body surface and interior
• Reacts to potential harmful substances
• Consists of:
• Cells
• Lymphocytes are most important and are effector cells
• Tissues
• Organs
• Lymphatic vessels connect to vascular system
Lymph
Vessels
• Right Lymphatic
duct
• Thoracic duct

Moore I.27
Lymph
Vessels
 Components of Lymph Tissue
Immune system cells
• Lymphocytes
• Plasma cells
• Mast cells
• Neutrophils
• Eosinophils focushms.com

• Phagocytes
• All made in red marrow

Antigen presenting cells (APCs) vivo.cornell.edu

• B lymphocytes
• Macrophages
• Follicular dendritic cells correlatingcancer.com

• Epithelial reticular cells

 Antigens and Antibodies
• An antigen is a molecule recognized
by immune cells that can induce a
specific immune response
• An antibody is a protein that marks
invaders for destruction by other
immune cells. It interacts with
antigens at an antigen-binding site
and can bind to cells. The most
common is IgG.
• Some antigens activate the
complement system
Actions of
Antibodies
 Important Cells of the Immune System
• Lymphocytes
• B-Cells – leaves bone marrow with multiple antigens it can recognize.
Produce plasma cells.
• T-Cells – leaves thymus with T-Cell Receptors (TCRs) that react with
major histocompatibility complexes. There are three kinds of T-cells:
• Helper cells
• Cytotoxic T cells
• Regulatory T cells
• Natural Killer (NK) Cells – attack virus infected cells, transplanted
cells and cancer cells
 Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs)
• Include macrophages, dendritic (Langerhans) cells,
and B-lymphocytes
• Capture antigens
• Are recognized by helper T-cells as friendly and share
the captured antigen with them.
• This interaction results in a complex immune response
 Major Histocompatability Complex Antigens
• MHC genes are unique to
each individual (MA:
transplants, grafts)
• MHC I proteins on all
nucleated cells
• MHC II on B cells and
macrophages
• Activated T cells – kill the cell
presenting the antigen on
MHC I
• Activated B cells – mount an
immune response using
antibody production (review
Fig. 14-3)
• Memory cells Junquiera’s Basic Histology 12th edition, p. 231
 Types of Immune Responses
• Innate response
• Fast and non-specific
• Cells: neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, NK cells
• Adaptive response
• Requires initial recognition by B and T cells
• Slower, specific, complex
• Produces memory cells which will respond quickly to
future exposures to an antigen.
 Adaptive Responses
• Humoral
• Activated B-lymphocytes proliferate and redifferentitate
into plasma cells which in turn produce antibodies to the
antigen which triggered activation
• Cellular
• Mediated by T-lymphocytes
• Secrete cytokines that activate B cells, other T cells, and
inflammatory cells like macrophages and neutrophils
• Attack foreign cells or cells infected by viruses or parasites
• Involves antigen-presenting cells and helper T-cells
 Naïve T and B cells
When T and B cells leave the bone marrow, they have receptors and migrate
to lymphoid tissues, but are still said to be “naïve” – not yet challenged by a
specific foreign antigen. T cells proceed to the thymus for selection
 T-cell First step is expression
of CD markers and
Selection T cell receptors (TCR’s)

• Occurs in thymus
• Have T-cell
receptors (TCRs) CD4 (helper T cells) bind
MHC II
• Remove T-cells CD8 (cytotoxic T cells)
bind MHC I
that react against
self antigens
• Remove T-cells
that do not react
to antigens
Immune response: Co-stimulation of B cells
Immune response: Co-stimulation of T cells
Components of Lymph Tissue
• Loose CT with lymphocytes and other
cells and reticular fibers
• Free or enclosed (lymphoid nodules)
• Nodules contain primarily B
lymphocytes. e.g. MALT, tonsils
 Lymphoid Tissue - Thymus Gland
Thymus medulla
• Thymus is site of T cell
maturation and selection
• Only T cells in thymus, B
cell maturation and
selection in the bone
marrow
• Consists of outer cortex
and inner medulla
• Cortex rich in small
lymphocytes relative to
medulla
 Thymus Cortex

Arrows:
Reticular
Cells

What is the
role of
these
reticular
cells in the
cortex?
Thymus Gland Medulla

HC: Hassall’s corpuscles,

contains reticular cells
undergoing keratinization
and degeneration
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue - Tonsils
• MALT – aggregates in mucosa of structures
exposed to the external environment. Lymphoid
tissue with dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, IgA-
secreting plasma cells, APC’s and lymphoid
nodules
• Palatine tonsils
• Lingual tonsils
• Pharyngeal tonsil
• Other MALT examples
given are Peyer patches
and the appendix in the
intestines – forms GALT
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue - Tonsils

Palatine Tonsil—note
the crypt (C) surrounded
by lymphoid nodules
Lymph Nodes
• Only structure that filters
lymph
Lymph Nodes

Cortex

Paracortex

Medulla
 Lymph Nodes
• High
endothelial
venules (HEVs)
promote rapid
transit and
recirculation of
lymphocytes.
HEVs are
specialized
postcapillary
venules.
Arrows denote
movement of
lymphocytes
passing into
venule
 Spleen

• Filters blood
through
clusters of T
and B cells
and splenic
cords
Spleen
 White Pulp of the Spleen

• Periarteriolar
lymphoid sheath
with nodules

Red Pulp of the Spleen

• Storage of
RBCs, natural
selection and
Bajau divers