‘Immunitas’- Latin; ‘Freedom From’
Body’s ability to resist or eliminate potentially harmful foreign materials or abnormal cells.
Key Role of Immune Defense System:
n To recognize and differentiate between ‘normal self’ and ‘non self’.
n To destroy or neutralize harmful materials within the body
Significance & Functions:
- Defense against invading pathogens; Bacteria & Viruses are the major targets.
- Removal of worn- out (aged/senile) cells & debris.
- Identification & destruction of abnormal or mutant cells i.e. ‘immune surveillance’.
- Inappropriate immune responses Allergy & Autoimmune Diseases.
- Rejection of tissue cells of foreign origin.
(The major obstacle in organ transplantation)
Life Span/Kinetics of Lymphocytes
n Lymphocytes (B & T):
§ B-Lymphocytes —- “Bursa Fabricius”, “Bone marrow”.
§ T-Lymphocytes —- “Thymus”.
-
- During this period majority of Lymphocytes continuously recycle among lymphoid tissues —- Lymph and back, spending only a few hours at a time in blood.
Antigen
n Can elicit specific immune response. “Antibody Generation”
n Specific molecular group(s) present in their structure (‘Antigen determinant’ or ‘Epitope’)
n Large polysaccharides or proteins
n Mol wt > 8000
Haptens
n Not Antigenic, Not protein
n Mol Wt
Immunity – howMed
‘Immunitas’- Latin; ‘Freedom From’
Body’s ability to resist or eliminate potentially harmful foreign materials or abnormal cells.
Key Role of Immune Defense System:
n To recognize and differentiate between ‘normal self’ and ‘non self’.
n To destroy or neutralize harmful materials within the body
Significance & Functions:
(The major obstacle in organ transplantation)
Life Span/Kinetics of Lymphocytes
n Lymphocytes (B & T):
§ B-Lymphocytes —- “Bursa Fabricius”, “Bone marrow”.
§ T-Lymphocytes —- “Thymus”.
Antigen
n Can elicit specific immune response. “Antibody Generation”
n Specific molecular group(s) present in their structure (‘Antigen determinant’ or ‘Epitope’)
n Large polysaccharides or proteins
n Mol wt > 8000
Haptens
n Not Antigenic, Not protein
n Mol Wt