How do these specific protective
mechanisms originate?
The process by which these host defenses
originate can be summarized by three actions:
(1) the recognition of the foreign organism by
specific immune cells,
(2) the activation of these immune cells to
produce a specific response (e.g., antibodies),
(3) the response that specifically targets the
organism for destruction.
Types of immunity
Immune
System
Innate
(Nonspecific)
Cellular
Components
Humoral
Components
Adaptive
(Specific)
Cell-
Mediated
Humoral
(Ab)
Innate immunity
Innate immunity (also called natural, or native,
immunity) refers to intrinsic mechanisms that are
poised to react immediately, and thus
constitute the first line of defense.
Mediated by cells and molecules that recognize
products of microbes and dead cells and induce
rapid protective host reactions.
Innate immunity: Properties
Non –specific i.e., same response to the range of
pathogens
Always present, ready to provide immediate defense
has no memory i.e., same response after repeated
exposure
Relies on already formed components
Based on genetic makeup
Innate immunity: Functions
1. Initial most response to microbes
2. Eliminate damaged cells and initiate the process
of tissue repair
3. Stimulates adaptive immune response
Lines of defenses in immune system
Innate defense system has two lines of
defense
First-external body membranes (skin and mucosae)
Second-antimicrobial proteins, phagocytes, and
other cells
Inhibit spread of invaders
Inflammation most important mechanism
Adaptive defense system
Third line of defense attacks particularforeign
substances
Takes longer to react than innate system
Mucus membranes -conjunctivae, alimentary,
respiratory, and urogenital tracts
•saliva, tears, and mucous secretions wash away
invaders and contain antibacterial or antiviral
substances.
•acidity (pH 5.6) of sweat, sebaceous glands, vagina
(pH 5) and stomach (pH 1) –unfriendly to many
microorganisms
enzymes present in the skin and stomach, tears
Normalflora-out compete pathogens for attachment sites
on the epithelial cell surface and for necessary nutrients.
Innate Defense: Physical barriers
Innate Defense: Cellular & Humoral
mechanisms
To prevent expansion of penetration
Recognize carbohydrates not normally present on
cells such as mannose
May cause nonspecific activation of white cells
Phagocytosis –by neutrophils, eosinophils,
basophils, or macrophages, mast cells, and
dendritic cells
Clotting mechanism which entraps organisms in
fibrin clots
Complement System can lyse cells or enhance
phagocytosis
Phagocytes: engulf bacteria, release toxic
chemicals, present antigens
Residue is exocytosed
Phagolysosome
destroys infectious
agent
Phagosome
Lysosome
MacrophageInfectious agent
engulfed
Neutrophil, macrophage, eosinophil: Phagocytic cells
Originally WBCs –they migrate into connective tissue
The “clean-up crew”: phagocytose debris and digest via lysosomes
Neutrophilsenter first then macrophages (derived from monocytes)
Eosinophils involved with parasitic infections and Ag-Ab complexes
Also an APC
How do phagocytes invade the area of
infection or injury?
-Inflammatory factors –
released by mast cells, etc.
-Vasodilation –capillaries
become permeable
-Margination–WBCs slow
down & align on the vessel wall
-Diapedesis–blood cells leave
vessels & enter the CT
-Chemotaxis–blood cells follow
a chemical gradient (move
toward the source ie., bacteria)
Complement Proteins
C
C
Elimination of
immune complexes
Antigen
Antibody
Complement
Erythrocyte
Complement (C) cross-links
immune (antigen-antibody)
complexes to erythrocyte and
transports to liver and spleen.
Complement proteins create
MAC to lyse cell.
Complement activates and attracts various cells of
innate immunity.
Complement (C) binds to
pathogen; acts as opsonin
Macrophage
Pathogen
Complement
InflammationOpsonization Cytolysis
Complement
MAC
protein
Pathogen
Inflammation
MacrophageNeutrophilBasophilMast cell
A series of ~20 enzymes normally circulating in an inactive form
•May be activated by the classical or alternate pathways
•Can result in lysis or enhanced phagocytosis of cells
Thus, helps or “complements” the ability of
antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens
from an organism.
Binds receptors of neighboring cells:
Promotes macrophage function and apoptosis of infected cell
Triggers synthesis of enzymes destroying viral RNA or DNA
Triggers synthesis of enzymes that inhibit synthesis of viral proteins
Interferons –signaling molecule
(cytokine) released by viral-infected cells
Reactions of Innate Immunity
The innate immune system provides host
defense by two main reactions.
1.Inflammation.
2.Antiviral defense.
Reactions of Innate Immunity: Inflammation
Overall non-specific reaction of body to injury or invasion
–starts immediately with infection or trauma
Reactants may initiate, expand, or sustain the
response
Can be acute (short duration) or become chronic
(prolonged duration)
Has 4 cardinal signs: heat, pain, redness, loss of
function.
Reactions of Innate Immunity: Antiviral
defense
Type I interferons produced in response to
viruses act on infected and uninfected cells and
activate enzymes that degrade viral nucleic
acids and inhibit viral replication, inducing what
has been called an antiviral state.
NK cells recognize virus-infected cells
Reactions of Innate Immunity: Antiviral
defense
Microbial pattern recognition by
innate immunity
Cells that participate in innate immunity are
capable of recognizing components shared by
microbesand molecules released by injured and
necrotic cells through their pattern
recognition receptors (PRR).
Microbial pattern recognition by innate
immunity
Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) expressed
mainly
By immune cells such as dendritic cells,
macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, as well as
By non-immune cells e.g., Epithelial cells
Function of pattern recognition receptors
(PRR)
1.Opsonization
2.Phagocytosis
3.Activation of complement
4.Activation of proinflammatorypathways
5.Induction of apoptosis
Location of pattern
recognition receptors
(PRR)
Plasma membrane
receptors detect
extracellular
microbes,
Endosomal
receptors detect
ingested microbes,
and
Cytosolic
receptors detect
microbes in the
cytoplasm