Antigen

Synonyms : Non-self molecules,

Immunogen, foreign bodies
T.A. Premchandani,
NMIMS,
SPTM, Shirpur
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 Antigen
• Antigens are simple or complex foreign
substances, which may be organic, inorganic
or biological agents and they
• Enhances
• Provokes
• Elicits
• the immune response when they enters in the
body pareneterally.

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 Antigen
• The word Parenteral (par- beyond) and
(Enteron git) is used in definition because
orally administered antigens are usually
denatured by digestive enzymes and their
antigenicity is destroyed.

• When given parenterally it do not undergo

any inactivation and can initiate antibody
production.
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 Antigen
• When a foreign bodies or substances enter the
system or body, it mediates
• Immediate or
• Delayed type of immune response.

• Various events of defense mechanism will be

taking place to remove the antigen.

• Humoral and cell mediated immunity will

taken place at the last. 4
 Classification of antigen
• Complete antigens :
• When these antigens enters the body evokes the immune
response without any assistant or carrier molecule .They
possess both qualities
• Immunogenicity and
• Antigenicity.

• Incomplete antigens or Haptens :

• These are the foreign substance they require carrier
molecule to act as a complete antigen.
• Such antigens are called as incomplete antigens or
Haptens.
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 Haptens
• Haptens are low molecular weight compounds
which are having antigenic property but lacks
immunogenic property.

• The immunogenic property or production of

antibody is governed by the carrier molecule.

• The carrier molecule is a non-antigenic

component and helps in provoking the immune
response. 6
 Haptens
• A hapten is equipped with chemically reactive side
chains such as
• Azide,
• Sulphonates,
• Arsinate and
• Carboxyate etc.

• Antibodies are also raised against these groups also.

• Normally the adjuvant are used as a carrier compound

for haptens and making it as complete antigens.
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 Adjuvants:
• It is a chemical, which when administered with the
antigens, enhances or provokes the immunity.

• Adjuvants are chemical suspension or liquid

suspension in which antigen or foreign proteins are
dissolved.

• Since most of the antigens are proteineous in nature,

they exhibit a maximum antigenicity if injected
simultaneously with the suitable adjuvants.
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 Adjuvants
• The commonly used adjuvants are:
• Freund’s complete adjuvants with lipid suspension with
mycobacterium in it.
• Freud’s incomplete adjuvants are lipid suspension or alum
suspension without any mycobacterium particles.

• These adjuvants are enhances the activation of B and

T lymphocytes and macrophages.

• Hence it has tremendous importance in the vaccine

production and injection.
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 Adjuvants
Adjuvants can react in Several Ways:
1. Alter the distribution and persistence of
antigen within the positive host.

2. Stimulate lymphocytes production non-

specifically.

3. Activate macrophages.

4. Alter traffic of circulating lymphocytes. 10

 Types of antigens
• Exogenous antigens :
• These antigens enters the body or system and start
circulating in the body fluids and trapped by the
APCs (Antigen processing cells such as
macrophages, dendritic cells etc.)

• The uptakes of these exogenous antigens by

APCs are mainly mediated by the
phagocytosis.
• Ex: bacteria, viruses, Fungi etc.
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 Types of antigens
• Endogenous antigens :
• These are body’s own cells or sub fragments or compounds or the
antigenic products that are produced.

• These are further classified into

a. Autoantigens : These are synthesized by the body. Ex:
nucleoproteins, nucleic acids etc.
b. Alloantigens : Same set of molecules with the genetic
variation. Ex: blood group antigens. HLA (Histocompatibility
Leukocyte antigens) etc.

• The endogenous antigens are processed by the macrophages

which are later accepted by the cytotoxic T – cells.
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 Chemical Nature of Immunogens/
Antigens
A. Proteins -The vast majority of immunogens
are proteins. These may be pure proteins or
they may be glycoproteins or lipoproteins.
• In general, proteins are usually very good
immunogens

B. Polysaccharides –
• Pure polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides are
good immunogens.
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 Chemical Nature of
Immunogens/ Antigens
C. Nucleic Acids - Nucleic acids are usually
poorly immunogenic.
However, they may become immunogenic
when single stranded or when complexed
with proteins.

D. Lipids - In general lipids are non-

immunogenic, although they may be haptens.
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 Property of antigens/ Factors
Influencing Immunogenicity
1. Molecular mass: Smaller molecules does not
provoke immune system.
• The antigens should possess an optimum molecular mass
or large molecule which then binds with the receptors and
provoke the immune response.
• The molecular weight should be between 1000 to 10,000.

2. Antigenic determinant size:

Antigenic determinants or epitopes are the regions of
antigen which specifically binds with the antibody
molecule. 15
 Property of antigens/ Factors
Influencing Immunogenicity
3.Foreignness - The immune system normally
discriminates between self and non-self components
such that only foreign molecules are immunogenic.

4. Chemical Composition - In general, the more

complex the substance is chemically the more
immunogenic it will be.

5. Physical form - In general particulate antigens are

more immunogenic than soluble ones and denatured
antigens more immunogenic than the native form.
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 Property of antigens/ Factors
Influencing Immunogenicity
6. Genetic Factors - Some substances are
immunogenic in one species but not in another.
Similarly, some substances are immunogenic in one
individual but not in others (i.e. responders and non-
responders).

• The species or individuals may lack or have altered

genes that code for the receptors for antigen on B
cells and T cells

• They may not have the appropriate genes needed for

the APC to present antigen to the helper T cells.
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7. Age - Age can also influence
immunogenicity. Usually the very young and
the very old have a diminished ability to elicit
and immune response in response to an
immunogen.

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 Superantigens
• When the immune system encounters a
conventional T-dependent antigen, only a
small fraction (2-3%) of the T cell population
is able to recognize the antigen and become
activated (monoclonal/ oligoclonal response).
• However, there are some antigens which
polyclonally activate a large fraction of the T
cells (up to 25%). These antigens are called as
“superantigens.”

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 Superantigens
• Examples of superantigens include:
• Staphylococcal enterotoxins (food poisoning),
• Staphylococcal shock toxin (toxic shock
syndrome), Staphylococcal exfoliating toxins
(scalded skin syndrome) Streptococcal pyrogenic
exotoxins (shock).
• The diseases associated with exposure to
superantigens are, in part, due to
Hyper activation of the immune system and
subsequent release of biologically active
cytokines by activated T- cells.
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