Humoral Immunity or Antibody Mediated Immunity - Practice Questions & MCQ

Updated on Sep 18, 2023 18:34 AM

Quick Facts

Humoral Immunity or Antibody Mediated Immune System (AMIS) is considered one of the most asked concept.

Humoral Immunity or Antibody Mediated Immune System (AMIS)

Antibodies are the specialized proteins produced in the body in response to antigen that circulate in the body fluids like blood plasma and lymph.
Since, the word ‘humor’ pertains to fluid and these antibodies are found in the fluids, the response is also called humoral immune response.
В-lymphocytes (B-cells) produce antibodies that regulate humoral immunity.
The T-lymphocytes themselves do not secrete antibodies but help В lymphocytes produce them.
Humoral immunity or antibody-mediated immune system (AMIS) provides defense against most extracellular bacterial pathogens and viruses that infect through the respiratory and intestinal tract.
When antibodies on В-cells surface bind antigens (any substances that cause antibodies formation) the В cell is activated and divides, producing a clone (descendants of a single cell) of daughter В cells.
These clones give rise to plasma В-cells and memory В-cells.
Some of the activated В cells enlarge, divide and differentiate into a clone of plasma B-cells.
Although plasma cells live for only a few days, they secrete enormous amounts of antibody during this period.
Some activated В-cells do not differentiate into plasma cells but rather remain as memory B-cells (Primed cells).
They have a longer life span. The memory cells remain dormant until activated once again by a new quantity of the same antigen.