Adaptive Immunity

Antigen Processing and Immune Response

• Dendritic cells and macrophages are the primary cells that process antigens in the immune system.

T Cell Regulation and Immunity

• The term for the subset of T cells that regulate the immune response is T regulatory cells.
• Passive immunity involves the transfer of preformed antibodies or T lymphocytes from a donor to the recipient.

Antigens and Immune Response

• Haptens are small-molecular-weight antigens that are not themselves immunogenic.
• The molecule responsible for binding antigen in the B cell receptor complex is immunoglobulin.
• MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) molecules present endogenous protein antigens in the immune system.

Genetics and Immunity

• The MHC genes are located on human chromosome 6.
• The class of antibody in the immune system is determined by the heavy chain constant region.
• The cluster of genes found on human chromosome 6, also called HLA antigens, is referred to as the Human Leukocyte Antigen complex.

Adaptive Immunity

• Adaptive immunity is produced after natural exposure to an antigen or after immunization.
• The main characteristic that distinguishes adaptive immunity from innate immunity is specificity.
• T cells, specifically T lymphocytes, are responsible for cell-mediated immunity.
• The function of B lymphocytes in the immune response is to produce antibodies.
• The process of B and T cells having an extensive diversity of antigen receptors capable of recognizing different antigens is called clonal selection.
• Humoral immunity is mediated by circulating antibodies.
• The main function of T lymphocytes in the immune response is to recognize and eliminate infected cells or produce chemical signals that activate other immune responses.

Immune Response Characteristics

• The adaptive immune response is much longer lived compared to the innate inflammatory response due to the generation of immunological memory.
• The clonal selection of B and T cells is initiated by antigen recognition.
• The immune response that consists of lymphocytes and serum proteins called antibodies is called humoral immunity.
• The main function of cells of the innate system in the adaptive immune response is to provide an early defense against infection and activate the adaptive immune response.

Test your knowledge of the general characteristics of adaptive immunity with this quiz. Explore the key components such as lymphocytes and antibodies, and understand the unique features of the adaptive immune response compared to innate inflammation.