Wholly responsible for the specific

immune recognition of pathogens

(initiate adaptive immune responses
All lymphocytes are derived from bone
marrow
T lymphocytes thymus
B lymphocytes bone marrow

Spleen
Lymph nodes
Appendix
Tonsils
Other Mucosal associated
lymphoid tissues (MALT)

Recognizes a particular Ag using a

receptor molecule on its surface

Different types and have a

variety of functions:
1. Regulating immunoglobulin production (TH)
2. Interacting with mononuclear phagocytes
and
helping them destroy pathogens (TH)
3. Lysing virally infected cells ( T Cytotoxic
cells-Tc)
4. Delayed hypersensitivity

Mononuclear phagocytes with cytotoxic

ability
Have the capacity to recognize the
surface changes in tumor cells and
virally infected cells
Use recognition systems which are nonspecific
NK cells

FUNCTION

T cell Phenotype (65%-35%)

T1+
T11+

T3+ T4+

T1+
T3+
T11+

T8+

Effector cells for

delayed
Hypersensitivity

Effector cells for

cytotoxicity

Help for cytotoxicity

Suppressor for Ig
synthesis
and delayed

Help for
immunoglobulin
Synthesis

Stimulation of lymphocytes by antigen

or mitogens (substances which caused
lymphocytes to undergo cell division)

Followed by proliferation and

differentiation of the progeny into various
effector and memory cells.

3 Major Categories of Molecules that

Trigger the Activation of Lymphocytes
1) Monoclonal activators antigens (Ag)

2) Oligoclonal activators-

superantigens
3) Polyclonal activators mitogens

Antigens
Stimulate/activate T cells or B cells
after contact with an antigen through
their receptor specific for an epitope.

Result: generation of one clone of T cell

and B cell population.

T-cell dependent Ag
Antigens (Proteins) will only activate B
cells in the presence of T cells (and the
proteins that they secrete).
T cell recognize the antigen cytokines
are released B cells are stimulated

T- cell independent Ag
B cell directly recognizes the antigen
(Polysaccharides )

Antigens that can activate B cells in the

absence of T cells

Superantigens
Molecules typically derived from bacteria

Activate a subset of T cells but not all T cells

T cell recognizes particular amino acid
sequences (epitopes) that are common to its
receptor.
Result: activated cells generate a few,
different clones

Mitogens
Epitopes are recognized virtually by all
T cells and B cells
Result: whole populations of T cells and
B cells are activated and many clones
are generated

Plant proteins polyclonal activators

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and
Concanavalin A (Con A) are plant
glycoproteins activate T cells
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) activate B
cells
Pokeweed mitogens (PWN) activate
both T cells and B cells.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN):

basophils, neutrophils and eosinophils
Monocytes
Macrophages
Natural Killer cells
Antigen presenting cells (APC)
dendritic cells and macrophages
Ag recognition is non-specific

Direct recognition
immediate encounter and recognition of a
cell
Ag is interacting directly with a receptor
present in the cell.
Examples:
Phagocytes recognize a bacterium
phagocytes have primitive pattern
recognition receptors that
interact with
many microorganisms.

Indirect recognition

another molecule (opsonin) binds

to the antigen
Opsonin serves as a link between
the cell and the antigen.
Examples:
Phagocytes that express receptors
for opsonins

Eosinophils that express receptors for

IgE antibodies that bind a helminth

Natural killer cells that express

receptors for IgG antibody that bind a
virally infected cell.

T cells and B cells have antigenrecognizing receptors that bind

antigen but interact only with the
epitopes.

Recognize
epitopes on

Antigen
recognizing
receptor

B cells

Intact antigen

Membranebound
antibodies

T cells

Antigen
T cell receptor
fragments
(TCR)
bound to MHC

Cells