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The B and T lymphocytes are two groups of nonphagocytic, morphologically indistinguishable, but
functionally different lymphocytes. However, there are certain features that are common to B and T
cells like; B and T lymphocytes recirculate around the body from blood to tissues and back again into
circulation, Each lymphocyte has individual receptor in its plasma membrane to enable it to
recognise a particular antigen which confers specificity, On getting stimulated with specific antigen
these lymphocytes undergo clonal proliferation and They show property of memory giving rise to a
faster and bigger immune response on re-challenge with the same antigen.
B Lymphocytes
B line stem cells are present in the bone marrow and are the source of pre-B cells which on
maturation become precursors of plasma cells. The antibodies are produced by stimulated plasma
cells. In an adult approximately 30% of the lymphocytes circulating in the blood can be identified as
B cells on the basis of their surface Ig markers. Their distribution in various important organs /
tissues is as under:
Peripheral blood 15-30%
Lymph nodes 20%
Bone marrow 75%
Thymus 10%
Tonsillar lymphocytes 50%
Splenic lymphocytes 50%
Activation of B-cells: Each B cell carries the genetic instruction to produce antibody of unique
antigen specificity as a membrane receptor. On getting stimulated mature B cells differentiate into
antibody secreting plasma cells.
T Lymphocytes
T cells, just like B cells they also originate from precursor cells of the bone marrow but mature in the
thymus. Several subsets of the T cells arise during this maturation process, each becoming focussed
upon a specific function.
Thymus, lymph nodes and peripheral blood are rich in T lymphocytes. Their distribution is as under:
· Peripheral blood 55-75%
· Lymph nodes 75%
· Bone marrow 10%
· Thymus 75%
Functions of T Cells include: T cells mediate cell-mediated immunity (CMI) through the production of
cytokines, T cells can directly act on and destroy virus infected cells, tumour and foreign cells
(cytotoxic action) and T cells act as regulatory cells that modulate the activity of other T cells,
macrophages or B cells, regulation can be in the form of help or suppression.
Nomenclature of T Lymphocytes
With the help of monoclonal antibodies various types of T cells have been identified which indicate
presence of different physicochemical structures on the surface of these cells. WHO has suggested a
terminology for T cells in which abbreviation CD is to be used. CD refers to cluster of differentiation.
At present the numbering system for CD is equivalent to T so that CD4 cells are T4 whereas CD8
cells are T8 cells.
The purification of T lymphocytes has revealed that there are three major functional subsets of these
cells.
· Helper T cells (help B cells and other T cells to multiply into large clones)
· Cytotoxic T cells (responsible for killing virus-infected cells)
· Delayed type hypersensitivity T cells (act by releasing macrophage chemotaxin and macrophage
migration inhibition factor)
Cytoklnes
Cytokines are a class of nonantibody molecules that are produced by many different cells, immune
and nonimmune, in a highly regulated manner. They exert different biologic effects which change
the behaviour and function of many cells that are needed in immune response. Cytokines are usually
low molecular weight glycoproteins that are biochemically distinct.
The antigen-independent activity of cytokines is directed mainly towards those cells which have
specific receptors for these on their surfaces. These cells are:
Interferons (IFN)
Interferons are a set of proteins which are released by virus infected cells in vivo and which react
with uninfected cells so as to render them resistant to infection with viruses. Around 20 human
interferons have been characterized.
General Characteristics of Interferons
• These are a family of glycoproteins
• These do not have any direct action on viruses
• Their activity is not virus specific. Interferon induced by one virus is effective against many other
viruses
• These are usually species specific
• The production of interferons is augmented at elevated temperatures such as 40°C
• Steroids and high oxygen tension depress the synthesis of interferons
• Synthesis of interferons begins within one hour of induction and takes around 12 hours to reach
its maximum activity
• These are sensitive to the action of proteolytic enzymes but resist destruction by nucleases and
lipases
• Interferons are resistant to heat at 56°C for upto 60 minutes
• These are nondialysable
• Interferons do not get sedimented even if these are centrifuged at 100,000 g for several hours
• Antisera against three types of interferons are now available and with their help it has been
shown that the three types are antigenically distinct.
Types of Interferons
These belong to three antigenically and chemically distinct types, known as alpha, beta and gamma.
The gamma interferon is not induced by viral infection but is continuously produced by lymphocytes
following stimulation with mitogens and hence is also one of the lymphokines. None of the
interferons can be produced in the virus infected cell cultures.
Interferon Inducers
Most RNA viruses are good interferon inducers and with the exception of pox viruses all DNA viruses
are poor interferon inducers. Other than infectious viruses followings are the interferon inducers.