Download basic immunology - School of Physical Sciences

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
LECTURE NOTES ON SZL 204:BASIC IMMUNOLOGY
PROF. HORACE OCHANDA
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
REVIEWED BY:
PROF. R.W. MWANGI
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
EDITED BY:
MR. P.M. KEIYORO
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
2004
2
COURSE OUTLINE
Lecture 1.0 INNATE AND ADAPTIVE IMMUNE RESPONSE
1.1 Introduction to Immunology
1.2 Historical background and applications of Immunology
1.3 Innate immunity
1.4 Acquired immunity
Lecture 2.0 CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Components of mammalian blood
2.3 Fluid components of mammalian blood
2.4 Cellular components of mammalian blood
Lecture 3.0 LYMPHOCYTES
3.1 Introduction
3.2 B lymphocytes
3.3 T lymphocytes
3.4 Natural killer cells
Lecture 4.0 THE MYELOID SYSTEM
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Cells of the myeloid system
4.3 Neutrophils
4.4 Eosinophils
4.5 Basophils
4.6 Mast cells
Lecture 5.0 THE MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTIC SYSTEM
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Monocyte – macrophage cells
5.3 Antigen - presenting cells
5.4 Platelets
Lecture 6.0 THE LYMPHOID SYSTEM
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Sources of lymphoid cells
6.3 Primary lymphoid organs
6.4 Secondary lymphoid organs
3
6.5 Lymphocyte circulation
Lecture 7.0 CYTOKINES, IMMUNOGENS, ANTIGENS AND VACCINES
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Cytokines
7.3 Immunogens and antigens
7.4 Haptens
7.5 Vaccines
7.6 Adjuvants
7.7 Antigen – antibody binding
7.8 Cross reactivity
Lecture 8.0 MOLECULES INVOLVED IN ANTIGEN RECOGNITION
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Immunoglobulins
8.3 Immunoglobulin structure
8.4 Enzymatic cleavage of immuniglobulins
8.5 Classification of immunoglobulins
8.6 Properties and functions of immunoglobulins
8.7 Immunoglobulin levels in children and adults
8.8 T cell antigen receptors
Lecture 9.0 MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Histocompatibility antigens
9.3 Major histocompatibility complex
9.4 Functions of the major histocompatibility complex
Lecture 10.0 THE IMMUNE RESPONSE
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Antigen processing and presentation
10.3 Activation of helper T cells
10.4 Activation of helper B cells
10.5 Activation of cytotoxic T cells
10.6 A summary of events in an immune response
Lecture 11.0 CELL MEDIATED AND ANTIBODY MEDIATED IMMUNE
RESPONSES
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Primary and secondary immune responses
4
11.3
11.4
Cell mediated cytotoxicity
Chronic cell mediated responses
Lecture 12.0 INFLAMMATION AND THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Inflammation
12.3 Classification of inflammation
12.4 Acute inflammation
12.5 Immunologicaly mediated inflammation
12.6 Chronic inflammation
12.7 The complement system
Lecture 13.0 REGULATION OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND
IMMUNOLOGICAL TOLERANCE
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Mechanisms of immune response regulation
13.3 Immunological tolerance
5
1.0. INTRODUCTION TO BASIC IMMUNOLOGY
Welcome to the course unit SZL 204: Basic Immunology. This is an
introductory course in Immunology. The unit provides you with a sound
foundation of Immunology if you are intending to pursue Immunology and
related subjects, such as Parasitology, at a higher level. It will also
provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand the
basic concepts of Immunology.
In this course unit, we will learn that Immunology is essentially the study
of the immune system and its functions. These functions are basically
defense against invading foreign organisms and removal from the body of
unwanted cells. We will therefore learn about the constituent
components of the immune system, how it is organized and how it
functions. Under components, we will learn about the cells and organs
that constitute the immune system. We will also learn about the
molecules these cells produce in order to communicate with one another.
The organization of the immune system is elaborate and we will therefore
learn about it in a stepwise manner. We will start by defining the two
main functional divisions that comprise the immune system. Thereafter,
we will learn about the components of these two subdivisions.
The functioning of the immune system, right from the time the immune
response is activated or triggered off by the invading foreign organisms,
up to the time these organisms are eliminated, will be studied in detail.
Under this broad area of the functioning of the immune system, we will
also learn about the various categories of immune systems.
The course unit consists of a total of a series of topics which, for
purposes of ease of time management, have been grouped into 13
lectures, each lasting about 45 minutes. The lectures are generally
arranged in sequence such that the concepts you learn will enable you
develop a platform to understand subsequent concepts. It is thus very
important that you take the lectures sequentially as arranged.
In Lecture 1, we will discuss how the mammalian immune system is
organized. In Lectures 2, 3, 4 and 5, we will be looking at the cellular
components of the immune system. In Lecture 6, we will be discussing
6
how cells of the immune system are organized into tissues and organs. In
addition we will outline the classification of these tissues and organs. In
Lecture 7, we will be looking at substances that elicit an immune response
and how they are bound by cells or molecules of the immune system. In
Lecture 8, we will discuss the characteristics of molecules involved in
recognizing substances that elicit an immune response. By the time we
are through with Lecture 8, we will have learnt about the basic features
of the components of the immune system. In Lecture 9, we will look at
the major histocompatibility complex, while in Lecture 10, we will outline
the steps involved in an immune response. This will be from the time a
foreign substance enters the body up to the time it is presented in a
form that can be recognized by the immune system. Lecture 11 is a
continuation of Lecture 10 since this is where we will look in detail at the
final processes involved in destroying the foreign substances that enter
the body. In Lecture 12, we will be discussing the other responses that
the body employs in response to invasion by foreign substances or tissue
damage. Finally, in Lecture 13, we will discuss the various mechanisms
involved in the regulation of the immune response and immunological
tolerance.
Exercises and activities are given at various points throughout the unit.
Please attempt these before proceeding on to subsequent sections. A
summary of the content you have learned, followed by a series of self –
test questions, are given to you at the end of each lecture. These will
help you assess yourself on how well you have comprehended the lecture
content. If you find that you are unable to follow and comprehend the
summarized key points of the lecture, or that you are unable to answer
satisfactorily the self test questions, then it is advisable that you go over
the lecture again. Also included is a list of abbreviations at the beginning
and, at the end, a glossary of terms used in this unit in this booklet.
These will help you in your study whenever you come across terms whose
meanings you are unsure of.
At the end of this course unit, you should be able to:
i)
ii)
iii)
Acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to enable you
understand the concepts involved in the immune response.
Describe the processes by which the body defends itself
against invading foreign organisms and removes unwanted cells.
Effectively apply this knowledge to your daily life.
7
Enjoy the course unit!
8
ABBREVIATIONS
Ab antibody
ABO system of human blood groups..
ADCC antibody - dependent cell – mediated cytotoxicity.
Ag antigen
AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
ATP adenosine triphosphate
BCG Bacille Calmette-Guéerin
BSA bovine serum albumin
CAM cell adhesion molecule
CD cluster of differentiation
Con A concanavalin A
CTLs cytotoxic T ltmphocytes
DDT dichlorodipheniletrichloroethane
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetate
ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
FACS fluorescence-activated cell sorter
GM-CSF granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor