Kuby Immunology, 7e: Chapter 2

Cells, Organs, and

Microenvironments of the Immune
System

Cells of the immune system

Immune responses result from coordinated

activities of many cells, organs, and
microenvironments in the body
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the
ability to differentiate into many types of
blood cells

All red and white blood cells develop from a

multipotent HSC during hematopoiesis
Hematopoiesis is a highly regulated process

Cells of the immune system

In adult vertebrates,
hematopoiesis occurs in
the bone marrow

Within the bone marrow,

HSCs are constantly
renewed and directed to
differentiate into two major
types of progenitors

Common myeloid progenitor

cells
Common lymphoid
progenitor cells

Cells of the immune system

Four main types of cells develop from common

myeloid progenitors

Erythrocytes
Monocytes
Granulocytes
Megakaryocytes

Granulocytes

Myeloid
AntigenPresenting Cells

Dendritic Cells

Follicular
Dendritic
Cells

Cells of the immune system

Macrophages and neutrophils are

specialized for phagocytosis

Macrophages can also present antigens to T

cells via MHC molecules

Immature dendritic cells capture antigen,

then mature and migrate out of that location
to another to present antigen to T cells

Dendritic cells are the most potent antigenpresenting cells for activating nave T cells

Cells of the immune system

Three main types of cells develop from the common

lymphoid progenitor

B lymphocytes
T lymphocytes
NK cells

Cluster of differentiation (CD) molecules

ORGANS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Primary vs. Secondary

Lymphoid Organs

Bone Marrow
Site of T cell origin and B cell origin and
development (humans)
Bursa of Fabricus
Peyers patch

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

Areas where lymphocytes encounter antigen,

become activated, undergo clonal expansion, and
differentiate into effector cells
Secondary lymphoid organ areas include:

Lymph nodes
Spleen
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
Other diffuse and loosely organized areas

These are connected to each other via the blood

and lymphatic circulatory systems

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

Lymph nodes and spleen are the most

highly organized secondary lymphoid
organs

T-cell and B-cell activity are separated into

distinct microenvironments
The cells will actively migrate toward each other
during activation events for their required
interactions

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

Differentiation into effector cells takes place

in follicles of secondary lymphoid organs

T lymphocytes

CD4+ T cells differentiate into helper T cells that assist

in B-cell differentiation
CD8+ T cells differentiate into killer (or cytotoxic) T
cells that attack and destroy virally infected cells

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

Differentiation into effector cells takes place

in follicles of secondary lymphoid organs

B cells further mature in germinal centers in

such tissues

Antigen affinity is increased

Class switching can take place

Both B and T lymphocytes will develop into longlived memory cells in these areas, as well

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

The spleen is the first line of defense

against blood-borne pathogens

Red blood cells are compartmentalized in red

pulp
White blood cells are segregated in white pulp
A specialized region of macrophages and B cells
known as the marginal zone borders the white
pulp

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)

Important layer of defense against infection at

mucosal and epithelial layers
Organizes responses to antigens that enter
mucosal tissues
Includes a network of follicles and lymphoid
microenvironments associated with the
intestines (gut-associated lymphoid tissue, or
GALT)

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

MALT

M cells in the lining of the gut are unique

They function to deliver antigen from the intestinal spaces to

lymphoid cells in the gut wall

Secondary lymphoid organsWhere

the immune response is initiated

Various loosely
organized and
diffuse lymphoid
tissue are also
found under the
skin, mucosae,
and tertiary
tissues at sites of
infection

Evolutionary Comparisons
Lymphoid Cells and Organs

Summary

While blood cell development is a necessary

part of immune responses, its only a first
step
Multiple other organs and tissues of the
body must receive those blood cells and
interface them with each other to achieve
proper immune responses
These interfaces and the tissues involved
are complex and multifaceted, as shown in
this chapters materials