B Cell Activation and Antibody Production

A process within the thymus gland that ensures only T cells capable of recognizing foreign peptides and self MHC molecules survive and mature.

Mature T cells migrate from the thymus into the bloodstream and then to various lymphoid tissues.

Specialized cells in the digestive tract that transport antigens from the intestinal lumen to immune cells.

The process where antigens are taken up from the intestinal tract by M cells and delivered to lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells.

Lymph tissues, like Peyer's patches, are essential for immune responses because they provide a location for lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells to interact with each other.

B cells and T cells recognize and respond to antigens in the lymph tissue.

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) display antigens to T cells in lymph tissue, initiating an immune response.

Cluster of Differentiation (CD) markers are surface glycoproteins found on immune cells that help identify and classify different cell types .

CD4+ cells, like helper T cells, are important for coordinating immune responses.

Helper T cells (TH) play a critical role in activating other immune cells, particularly B cells, to produce antibodies.

Cytokines are signaling molecules that cells use to communicate with each other, and helper T (TH) cells release cytokines that can activate other immune cells.

MHC Class II molecules are found on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) like B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. They present antigens to helper T cells.

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process used to eliminate infected or cancerous cells.

CD8+ cells, like cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), are responsible for directly killing infected or cancerous cells. They recognize MHC Class I on infected cells, a key to recognizing infected cells.

MHC Class I molecules are expressed on all nucleated cells in the body. They present intracellular antigens, like viruses or cancer proteins, to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs).

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) kill infected or cancerous cells by releasing toxic substances.

A type of vaccine that uses a weakened version of a pathogen to stimulate the immune system. This weakened version is still alive, but unable to cause disease.

The ability of a population to resist the spread of an infectious disease due to a high percentage of immune individuals.

A type of vaccine that uses a dead form of a pathogen to stimulate the immune system.

A type of vaccine that uses only specific parts of a pathogen, such as proteins, to stimulate the immune system.

The process of introducing a weakened or inactivated form of a pathogen into the body to stimulate an immune response.

A type of T cell that is responsible for killing abnormal cells, such as virus-infected cells or cancer cells.

Naïve T cells are T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen and are therefore not activated.

A specific cell surface protein found on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that binds to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules on T helper cells.

A protein found on the surface of T cells that helps them recognize and bind to antigen fragments presented by MHC molecules.

A type of T cell that helps to activate other immune cells, such as macrophages and cytotoxic T cells.

A type of cell that presents antigen fragments to T cells, triggering an immune response.

A type of molecule that helps to activate T cells by providing a second signal in addition to the antigen.

Small proteins that act as messengers in the immune system, regulating the activity of other cells.

A type of T cell that helps to suppress the immune response, preventing autoimmune reactions.

Immune system recognizes and attacks cells that are different from the body's own cells due to alterations like presence of foreign antigens or viral infection.

Cells that have been altered might have unusual features on their surface, becoming targets for the immune system.

When the body receives a tissue transplant, the immune system may attack the transplanted tissue because it identifies it as foreign. This is why immunosuppressants are used to suppress the immune system.

MHC class I molecules, present on all nucleated cells, are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to detect any alterations in cells.

The process of CTLs killing infected or cancerous cells by releasing substances like perforin and granzymes, leading to apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

Programmed cell death, a controlled and orderly process where a cell self-destructs without causing damage to nearby cells.

A type of lymphocyte(a type of white blood cell) that kills cells infected with viruses or cancer, without needing specific antigen presentation.

NK cells can distinguish normal cells from infected or cancerous cells by recognizing changes in the cell surface.

NK cells kill target cells by releasing cytotoxic granules that contain substances like perforin and granzymes, causing cell death.