humoral (antibody mediated) immunity

A small animated video (made in office.org) without audio on how B cells use help from T cell to make antibodies. In brief, a B cell specific to a particular foreign antigen captures it through its surface immunoglobulins and internalises it in a receptor mediate endocytosis. There, the antigen is broken down to several epitopes and then is presented on its surface coupled with a MHC class II protein. This complex is then recognized by a T cell (specific to the epitope being presented). Binding of TCR and other co-stimuli activates T cell, which releases cytokines (IL-2). These cytokines act on the B cell, thus leading to its clonal proliferation. Several clones of the B cells are then formed. Many of them turn into antibody secreting plasma cells while a minority transform in long lived memory cells.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• humoral immunity
• antibody immunity
• B cell
• T cell
• antibody production