Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes

1. Origin and Development

   • Positive Selection
     • ensures survival of lymphocytes that react against antigens. These proliferate and form clones.
   • Negative Selection
     • eliminates clones that react against self-antigens

2. B and T cells

   • originate in bone marrow
   • move to primary lymphatic organs where they mature into functional cells.
     • B cells to bone marrow
     • T cells to thymus
   • secondary lymphatic organs interact with each other which produces the immune response

3. Activation

   • must be able to recognize the antigen and destroy it.
   • Antigenic determinants: specific regions of antigen recognized by lymphocytes
   • Antigenic Receptors (T and B cell receptors)
     • surface of lymphocyte that combines with antigenic determinant
   • MHC complex
     • glycoprotein molecules which have a variable region that bind to foreign and self antigens

Images and files in the map