Antigen & Antibodies

What is antigen?

Foreign molecule recognised by lymphocytes -produce

antibodies.
Macromolecules carried on the surface of pathogen or
transplanted cells
Toxins which secreted by phatogen also act as antigen.
Lymphocytes recognise specific portions of antigens, called
epitopes // antigetic determinants
Antigen may hav several different epitopes as different
antibodies may bind to a single antigen.

LYMPHOCYTES
Produce
Secreted
Antibodies//
immunoglob
ulin

(same basic structure)

Membrane
Antibodies

Antibodies or immunoglobulins
- Y-shaped
- Made up of four polypeptide chain
- Two identical heavy chain & two identical light chain
- Linked by disulphide bridge
- No transmembrane region
- Amino acid sequence of both type of
chain have variable region and constant
Region
Constant region amino acid sequence which are
same for all antibodies within the same class
Variable region differ from antibody to antibody
Act as antigen binding site.

Membrane Antibodies
- Function as B cell receptors
- Tail region anchor in plasma membrane of B
lymphocytes
- Recognised free unprocessed antigens.
- Have transmembrane region

lg M
Five Y shaped monomer linked together
Many antigen binding sites agglutination
reactions
First class antibody produced
Does not cross the placental barrier
Involved n complement activation

Ig G
Small monomer which easily move out of
blood vessels into tissue fluid.
Cross the placenta, conferring the passive
immunity on fetus
75% antibodies circulating in body fluids
Promote opsonisation, neutralisation
& agglutination.

Ig A
Small molecule made up of two monomer
Produced mainly in mucous membrane
Founds in tears, perspiration, saliva,
colostrum
Prevent bacteria & virus attrach to
epithelial surface of respiratory passages,
alimentary canal, urinary and reproductive
tract

Ig D
Found on the membrane of B cels where
they function as antigen receptor.
Cannot cross placental barrier
Responsible for stimulating the
differentiation of B cell into plasma cell
and memory cells.

Ig E
Only small amount produced
compare to other antibodies.
Binds to mast cell and basophils to
stimulate them to produce
histamines.
Allergic response
Immunity to parasitic worms

Development and roles of Macrophages, B cells

and T cells.
Macrophages are cells develop from monocytes,
type of white blood cell.
Migrates into body tissue where delevop into
large, long lived amoeboid macrophages.
Some reside permanently in organ and tissues,
(example: Kuppfer cells in the liver)
Othes patrol in bodys tissues, ingesting foreign
matter (bateria, protozoan parasites and old red
blood cells)

Macrophages has surface receptors(Class II

MHC)
Synthesis

MHC molecules
binds

Fragment of ingested antigens

move toward

Plasma membrane
- Become antigen presenting cell (APC)
- Important in producing the specific immune
system
* MHC = MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX

Lymphocytes
(made in bone marrow)
T cells

cells
(migrates to thymus gland
development in
to complete maturation)
marrow)

(complete
bone

T cells have receptor that consist 2 different polypeptide chain

-alpha chain
-beta chain
-linked by disulphide bridge
These receptor recognise specific antigens
T - cells
CD4
Surface protein
CD8
- helper T-Cells (TH)
- cytotoxic T cell
(Tc)
secrete
cytokines(chemical)
recognise and destroy
cells
activate
with foreign antigen
on
Cell- mediated and humoral
their surface ( virus infected
Immume responses
cells, cancer cells and grafted
tissue)

B cells
Have surface receptors known as
Membrane antibodies.
Main function:
Production and secretion of antibodies
That is humoral immune responses