Review: Cell Mediated and Humoral Immunity------ Specific Immunity

Question 1

Define antigen

Answer 1

Stimulates an immune response
Seen as “non-self”/foreign
Best Ags: proteins or combination protein molecule like glycoprotein
Good Ag: polysaccharide
Not good Ags (alone): lipids, nucleic acids

Question 2

Define immunogenicity as it relates to reactivity.

Answer 2

Immunogenicity: ability of Ag to stimulate immunity
Ex. Protein Ag is more immunogenic than Lipid Ag
Reactivity: ability of immune system to react with Ag
Ex. The more immunogenic the Ag, the more reactive the immune system

Question 3

What is immunological tolerance? What happens if it is lost?

Answer 3

Immunological Tolerance: prevents us from rejecting self

If lost we could cause harm to our self and reject our own organs and other fluids needed to keep us functioning and alive.

Question 4

What is the importance of MHC receptors ?

Answer 4

Major Histocompatability Complex
Located on surface of all body cells (surface receptor)
Cells “fingerprint”
Allows specific immune cells to recognize self vs. foreign
Altered MHC receptors are perceived as foreign and destroyed

Question 5

Review the Origin of the Immune system.

Answer 5

1

Question 6

What is the parent cell to all blood cells?

Answer 6

Stem Cell (Bone Marrow)

Question 7

**Where are T-cells and B-cells made in the human body? Where do they mature?

Answer 7

The T-cells are made and mature in the Thymus

The B-cells are made and mature in the Bone Marow

Question 8

What is meant by the term immunocompetent?

Answer 8

Immunocompetent
Applies to mature T-cells/B-cells
Genetically primed to react with a specific Ag
Recognition site present even before an encounter with Ag

Question 9

Where in the human body is central vs. seconday lymphoid tissue?

Answer 9

Central Lymphoid Tissue
Thymus
     T-cells become mature here
Bone Marrow
     B-cells become mature here

Secondary Lymphoid tissues
Lymph nodes
Spleen
Peyer’s Patch