chapter 7 fine tuning immune response

Antibody Response

B cell response fine-tunes antibodies for effectiveness.

Complementarity Determining Regions (CDRs)

Regions in antibodies that bind directly to antigens.

Epitope

Specific site on an antigen recognized by antibodies.

Follicular T helper cells (TFH)

T cells that assist B cell activation and proliferation.

Germinal Centre

Site in lymphoid tissue for B cell maturation.

Somatic Hypermutation

High mutation rate in B cell receptor genes.

Affinity Maturation

Selection of B cells with highest antigen binding affinity.

Class Switching

Change in antibody class while maintaining specificity.

IgM

First antibody class produced during immune response.

Memory Cells

Long-lived B cells for rapid future responses.

Plasma Cells

Effector B cells that secrete large amounts of antibodies.

Dark Zone

Area for somatic hypermutation in proliferating B cells.

Light Zone

Area for selection of high-affinity B cells.

Mantle Zone

Outer ring of B cell follicle containing naïve B cells.

Cytokines

Signaling molecules influencing B cell isotype switching.

TH1 and TH2 Cells

T helper cells that influence antibody class production.

TGFβ

Cytokine involved in mucosal immune responses.

Antibody Synthesis Rate

Thousands of antibodies produced per second by plasma cells.

Primary Response

Initial immune response to first exposure to antigen.

Memory Response

Faster, stronger response due to memory cells.

Clonal Expansion

Rapid proliferation of antigen-specific B cells.

B Cell Activation

Process initiated by antigen interaction in lymphoid tissue.

Antigen-specific Th

T helper cells that interact with specific antigens.

B Cell Follicle

Structure in lymphoid tissue where B cells reside.

Effector Function

Functional capabilities of antibodies after class switching.

Antibody Class

Determines size, shape, and function location.

Monomer

Single unit of 2 heavy and 2 light chains.

Fc Region

Stem of antibody; interacts with immune components.

J Chain

Protein joining monomers into polymers in antibodies.

IgM

Antibody in blood and tissues; forms pentamer.

IgA

Antibody in secretions; neutralizes pathogens at mucosal barriers.

IgG

Antibody in blood; crosses placenta for neonatal immunity.

IgE

Antibody bound to mast cells; involved in allergic responses.

Neonatal Immunity

Maternal antibodies provide immunity to newborns.

Secretory IgA

IgA transported across mucosal barriers; neutralizes pathogens.

Opsonization

Enhancement of phagocytosis through antibody binding.

ADCC

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity; kills target cells.

Fc Receptors (FcR)

Innate cell receptors specific for antibody Fc regions.

FcγR

Fc receptor that binds IgG antibodies.

FcαR

Fc receptor that binds IgA antibodies.

FcεR

Fc receptor that binds IgE antibodies.

Complement Activation

Triggered by IgM and IgG; clears tissue threats.

Pentamer

Structure of secreted IgM; has 10 binding sites.

Multi-Site Binding

Strengthens antigen binding; compensates for low affinity.

Pathogen Neutralization

IgA blocks pathogen entry at mucosal surfaces.

Lymphatic Filariasis

Parasitic worm infection causing severe swelling.

Elephantiasis

Extreme swelling from blocked lymphatic drainage.

Th1 and Th17

T helper cells involved in immune response.

Innate Cytotoxic Cells

Cells that kill target cells via antibody interaction.

Passive Immunization

Transfer of pathogen-specific antibodies to a naïve individual.

Active Immunization

Protection via vaccination or natural infection.

Serum

Amber liquid from blood, contains antibodies.

Antiserum

Serum containing specific antibodies against an antigen.

Tetanus

Infection causing lethal muscle contractions from bacteria.

Tetanus Antitoxin

Serum with anti-tetanus antibodies for treatment.

Ebola Antiserum

Serum from survivors given to newly infected individuals.

Polyclonal Response

Immune response activating multiple B cell clones.

Monoclonal Antibodies

Identical antibodies produced in lab with specific affinity.

Hybridoma Technology

Fusion of B cells and myeloma cells for antibody production.

Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies

Target specific molecules to alleviate diseases.

Diagnostic Monoclonal Antibodies

Detect presence of specific molecules in diagnostics.

Georges Köhler

Co-discoverer of monoclonal antibody production principle.

César Milstein

Co-discoverer of monoclonal antibody production principle.

Fluorescent-tagged Antibodies

Antibodies labeled with fluorescent molecules for detection.

Radioactive-tagged Antibodies

Antibodies labeled with radioactive molecules for diagnosis.

B Cell Epitopes

Small sites on antigens interacting with BCRs.

T Cell Lymphoma

Cancer affecting T cells, detectable via tagged antibodies.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Autoimmune disease with autoantibodies under the epidermis.

Antibody Classes

Different types of antibodies with distinct functions.

Effector Functions

Activities of antibodies to eliminate pathogens.

Antibody Specificity

Ability of antibodies to bind specific antigens.

Antibody Affinity

Strength of binding between antibody and antigen.

Autoantibodies

Antibodies targeting one's own cells or tissues.

Pemphigus vulgaris

Autoimmune disease causing blistering of skin.

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies produced from identical immune cells.

Immune-mediated disease

Diseases caused by immune system dysfunction.

Cytokines

Proteins that mediate immune responses.

Lymphocytes

White blood cells involved in immune responses.

Cancer therapy

Treatment targeting and killing cancer cells.

Chimeric mAb

Antibody with human constant regions.

Humanized mAb

Antibody with human sequences except CDRs.

Leukemia

Malignancy starting in bone marrow.

Lymphoma

Cancer of lymphoid tissues.

Myeloma

Cancer of plasma cells producing antibodies.

Monoclonal proliferation

Growth of a single clone of cells.

Anaemia

Low red blood cell production causing fatigue.

Rituximab

Chimeric mAb targeting CD20 on B cells.

ADCC

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity mechanism.

Complement-mediated cytotoxicity

Killing of cells via complement activation.

HER2

Growth factor receptor in some cancers.

Trastuzumab

Humanized mAb targeting HER2 receptor.

Essential medicines

Drugs meeting priority health care needs.

Germinal centres

Sites of B cell proliferation in lymph nodes.

Marginal zone

Area surrounding germinal centres in lymph nodes.

Natural killer (NK) cells

Immune cells that kill infected or cancerous cells.

C1q

Protein involved in complement activation.

Fc region

Part of antibody that interacts with receptors.