ANIMAL IMMUNE

SYSTEM
AND
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
CONTENT STANDARD
*The learners demonstrate an understanding of animal immune system and endocrine system.

LEARNING COMPETENCY
*The learner should be able to explain how immune system and endocrine system work.
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
*Compare innate and acquired immunity responses.
*Explain why innate immune response (inflammation particular) is essential for a protective immune
response.
 ANIMAL IMMUNE SYSTEM

• IMMUNE SYSTEM

• Animals defend themselves from pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses,

bacteria, and other pathogensin the environment. Some abnormal body cells may
also form, as in the case of cancer cells, which must be addressed by the body.
• There are two major kinds of defense mechanism developed (innate immunity, which
is anon specific response to a broad range of microbes formed by the skin and
mucous membranes together with macrophages and other phagocytic cells that
ingest and destroy pathogens that penetrates through the external barrier; and
acquired immunity which is a highly specific response developed only after exposure
to pathogens and cells by the recognition of lymphocytes.
Figure 1.1 The time course of an immune
response. Figure 1.2 Macrophages have identified cancer
cell.
 INNATE IMMUNITY
There are two lines of defense in innate immunity. The first line of defense is the skin
and mucous membrane that lines the digestive, respiratory, and genitourinary tract,
which acts as a barrier on invading pathogens.
The skin is also acidic (ph around 3.5) which kills potential pathogenic microorganisms.
Sweat, tears, and saliva also contain an enzyme called lysozyme to kill bacteria.
In the inner lining of the organs for digestion, respiration etc., Mucus is produced to
trap microbes and other particles. Pathogens that successfully cross the first line of
defense then face the chemical defense mechanism, which is often done through
phagocytosis.
Phagocytes attach to their prey via surface receptors of pathogens then engulf it by
forming a vacuole that fuses with a lysosome. Lysosomes contain chemicals and
enzymes that can degrade and destroy the pathogen. However, some microbes have
adaptations to escape these phagocytes.
An inflammatory response often triggers a multitude of response such as dilation of
blood vessel to allow more blood to flow in. Affected cells in the area of inflammation
release a hormone called histamine to relax blood vessel to allow more blood flow.
Higher blood temperature can occur which can hinder bacterial growth and stimulate
repair processes. Fever is your body's way of fighting off the pathogen by creating an
environment for microorganisms that has higher temperature than their optimum
growth temperature. The lymphatic system also becomes activated during this time.
 ACQUIRED IMMUNITY
• Acquired immunity, lymphocyte provides a specific defense against pathogens (figure
1.3). The body detects the foreign object or pathogen by certain molecules attached
on the outside of invading pathogens or by other foreign objects. This molecule or
foreign substance is called as antigen. The immune system produces antibodies, which
will attach to the antigens.
• The acquired immune system utilizes two major cell types. The first is known as B cells,
which produce the antibodies. The presence of an antigen triggers the production of
numerous types of B cells.
• The second type of cell is known as T cells, which can attack infected cells by
phagocytosis or by injecting chemicals (performing) to breakdown and kill the
pathogen.
 THERE ARE THREE MAJOR TYPES OF T CELLS

(1) Killer T cells inject chemicals into pathogens

(2) Helper T cells attract and assist B cells in antibody production
(3) Suppressor T cells that stop the B and T cells after infection. Both the B and cells
are produced in the bone marrow, and site of maturation dictates the fate of the
cell.
ILLUSTRATION ON THE ACTIONS OF IMMUNE CELLS
• The antibody produced in response to antigen consists of two chains in a"y"shape
orientation. The arms are composed of double chains and each tip of the Y serves as
the site for antibody-antigen binding.
• Each four major blood groups-A, B, O, and AB-have its own antigen. Thus, only
compatible blood types are allowed to be transferred from one person to another if
the wrong blood type is transfused, the antibody will attach to the foreign blood
Antigen, which will lead to clotting and death.
• The only reason why the human cell does not attack its own cell is because of the
molecules that comprise the major histocompatability complex (mhc). All cells
containing certain forms of MHC protein is considered by the body as one of its
own. An autoimmune disease is developed and/or acquired when the immune system
does not recognize the MHC and attacks its own body cells.
 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
The endocrine and nervous system act individually and together
in maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis will be discussed in detail
in the next section. Animal's hormone is mostly produced by the
endocrine system. Hormones are chemical signals secreted by
endocrine glands that communicate regulatory messages within the
body. It is released to the extracellular fluid and then diffused to
the blood but only elicit response from specific organs. Hormones
coordinate responses to stimuli such as stress, dehydration, and low
blood glucose levels as well as to regulate growth and
development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics.
 THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF HORMONAL PATHWAYS

(1) Endocrine pathway

(2) Neurohormone pathway
(3) Neuroendocrine pathway.
• Signal molecules bind to receptor proteins, which results
in a change in the cell behavior brought about by the
signal transduction. The hypothalamus is the main
region that integrates both the endocrine and nervous
functions in vertebrates. This region of the brain
contains neurosecretory cells that regulate the activity
of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is divided
into the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis)and
anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis). The hormones
produced by these organs regulate the function of other
endocrine glands, thus they are called tropic hormones.