antibodies= learned response or inherent response? (1 Viewer)

[somewhereelse]

this is from an anatomy textbook:

'While many of the details of lymphocyte processing are still unknown, we know that lymphocytes become immunocompetent before meeting the antigens they may later attack. Thus, it is our genes, not antigens, that determine what specific forgein substances our immune system will be able to recognise and resist. An antigen determines only which existing B or T cells will proliferate and mount an attack against it. Only some of the possible antigens our lymphocyes are programmed to resist will ever invade our bodies. Consequently, only some memers of our army of immunocompetent cells are mobilized in our lifetime, the others are forever idle.'

Yet from Oxford Bio in Context:
'Once the B cells have been cloned, they respond to the presence of antigen by producing antibody molecules that have a molecular shape compatible with that of the antigen. ' plus the whole explanation they give of the clonal selection theory, suggests that antibodies are determined by antigens?

so im confused? anyone know the answer? id ask my teacher, but she'd take about ten minutes to repeat herself three times and still not actually answer my question.

 

[xiao1985]

B cells generate tens of millions of antibodies upon recognising an antigen's prescence.

when it says it's our genes, i believe it mean the recognition system. the immune system recognise our own cells as self, and will not initiate a response or call b cells to generate antibodies...

 

[Ea22.007]

both are right,
wat u get is ure own genes being transcribed and translated into certain immunoglobulinD(antibodies) proteins on the surfaces of the B-cells and similar receptor proteins on the T-cell surfaces.
these proteins are very specific and the bodies own genes encode for a very diverse range of these proteins all with affinities for certain antigens.

When the actual antigen is encountered, since there are so many lymphocytes-each with its receptors specific for certain antibodies,
the antigens will bind to the receptors specific to it and start the clonal selection process and u will get the lymphocyte with those spefic receptors multiplying so that there are more of them specific for that antigen.

Therefore u have the lymphocytes with the receptors for many different antigens encoded by ure genome but they are in small numbers until the antigen is encountered and clonal selection is triggered increasing the numbers of the lymphocytes specifc for that antigen.

One consequence of this is that u will have lymphocytes with antibodies specific to antigens which u may never encounter and so they will remain in the body but in much smaller numbers compared to the ones that have undergone clonal selection.

 

[Survivor39]

Everything sounds correct except this sentence:

When the actual antigen is encountered, since there are so many lymphocytes-each with its receptors specific for certain antibodies,
the antigens will bind to the receptors specific to it and start the clonal selection process...

Each lymphocyte (B and T) has its receptors specific for an antigen, not antibodies.

Just be careful with the wording.

 

[Survivor39]

To the original poster, antibodies are an "inherent" response if you can call it that.

In short:

Your genes --> antibodies on B cells --> antibodies attached to B cell surface recongise antigen --> B cell multiplies (Clonal Expansion) --> B cell with antibodies specific for that antigen release antibodies to go around the body and neutralise the antigen.

So basically specific antibodies does NOT form because of an antigen. They are ALREADY formed and can recognise the antigen before it comes.

 

[Ea22.007]

Everything sounds correct except this sentence:



Each lymphocyte (B and T) has its receptors specific for an antigen, not antibodies.

Just be careful with the wording.

whoops, yeah my mistake