Cells of the immune system
B-cells The major function of B lymphocytes is to develop into antibody-secreting plasma cells following stimulation by foreign antigens of bacteria, viruses and tumor cells. Antibodies are specialized proteins that specifically recognize and bind to specific antigens that caused their stimulation. Antibody production and binding to foreign antigens is often critical as a means of signaling other cells to engulf, kill or remove that substance from the body.
T-cells T lymphocytes are usually divided into two major subsets that are functionally and phenotypically different. T helper (TH) cells, also called CD4+ T cells, are involved in coordination and regulation of immunological responses. They function to mediate responses by the secretion of lymphokines that stimulate or otherwise affect other cells involved in the immune responses.
The second subset type of T lymphocytes are cytotoxic T lymphocytes ( Tc cells or CTLs) or CD8+ T cells. These cells are involved in directly killing certain tumor cells, virus-infected cells, transplant cells, and sometimes eucaryotic parasites. CD8+ T cells are also important in down-regulation of immune responses.
Both types of T cells can be found throughout the body, most conspicuously in lymphoid organs (lymph nodes and spleen) but also the liver, lung, blood, and the intestinal tract.
Natural Killer cells Natural killer cells, known as NK cells, are similar to CTLs (CD8+ T cells). They function as effector cells that directly kill certain tumors such as melanomas, lymphomas and virus-infected cells, most notably herpes and cytomegalovirus-infected cells. However, NK cells, unlike the CD8+ (Tc) cells, kill their target cells without need for recognition of antigen in association with MHC molecules. NK cells that have been activated by secretions from CD4+ T cells will kill their tumor or viral-infected targets more effectively.
Macrophages Macrophages are important in the regulation of immune responses. Besides their role in phagocytosis, they may function as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) because they ingest foreign materials and present these antigens to other cells of the immune system such as T-cells and B-cells. This is one of the important first steps in the initiation of an immunological response. Macrophages, stimulated by certain lymphokines, exhibit increased levels of phagocytosis and are also secrete cytokines that modulate immune responses.
Dendritic cells Dendritic cells also originate in the bone marrow and function as antigen presenting cells (APCs). In fact, the dendritic cells are more efficient APCs than macrophages. These cells are usually found in structural compartments of the lymphoid organs such as the thymus, lymph nodes and spleen. However, they are also found in the bloodstream and other tissues of the body. It is believed that they capture and process antigens in lymphoid organs where an immunological response is initiated. Of particular interest is the recent finding that dendritic cells bind large numbers of HIV particles, and may be a reservoir of virus that is transmitted to CD4+ T cells.