Question

Comparison of humoral and cell-mediated immunity

Discuss the major differences between humoral and cell-mediated immunity, including cell types involved and the end result of the immune process. Why is it essential to have both a humoral as well as a cell-mediated immune response in order to have a fully competent immune system?

Answer 1

	Humoral immunity	cell mediated immunity
Cells	B-lymphocytes	T lymphocytes
Maturation site	Generated and matured in bone marrow	Originate in bone marrow and complete development in thymus.
Protection against	Extracellular microbes and their toxins. toxin induced diseases and infections	Intracellular microbes like viruses,parasites,bavteria and tumor cells.
%age of lymphocytes	10-20%circulating peripheral lymphocyte population	60-70%
Location in lymph nodes	Superficial cortex	paracortical areas.
Location in spleen	White pulp	Periarteriolar sheaths
Receptors	B-cell antigen receptor complex consisting of mainly IgM and IgD	In 95% T cells alpha/beta TCR
End result of activation	Differentiation of Bcells into antibody secreting cells called plasma cells.	Secreting locally acting proteins called cytokines
Hypersensitivity reactions	1,2 and 3 antibody mediated	4 is cell mediated
Regulator of antibody synthesis	no	yes
onset	rapid	delayed type hypersensitivity