Difference Between Humoral And Cell Mediated Immunity

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Jul 23, 2024 04:51 PM IST

Differences Between Humoral And Cell-Mediated Immunity: The immune system is the body’s protection against infections and diseases. Immunologically, it is a cellular, tissue, and organ system capable of recognizing and eliminating pathogens. Awareness of the immune system is essential, as it plays an important role in achieving and maintaining health. Thus, the two subdivisions of adaptive immunity include

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Humoral Immunity vs Cell-Mediated Immunity
What is Humoral Immunity?
What is Cell-Mediated Immunity?
Vaccines and Immunotherapy
Diseases and Disorders
Conclusion

Difference Between Humoral And Cell Mediated Immunity

humoral immunity and
cell-mediated immunity,

These two are characterised by their functions.

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Humoral Immunity vs Cell-Mediated Immunity

Table: Comprehensive Comparison of Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity

Feature

Humoral Immunity

Cell-Mediated Immunity

Definition

Immunity attributed by antibodies in body fluids

Immunity attributed by T cells

Main Components

B cells, plasma cells, antibodies

T cells (helper, cytotoxic, regulatory)

Target Pathogens

Extracellular pathogens (bacteria, viruses)

Intracellular pathogens (virus-infected cells)

Mode of Action

Neutralisation, opsonisation, complement activation

Direct killing of infected cells

Memory Cells

Memory B cells

Memory T cells

Response Time

Faster response to pathogens

Slower response requires antigen presentation

Duration of Response

Short to long-term, depending on memory cells

Long-term due to memory T cells

Specificity

Specific to antigens but can bind to similar ones

Highly specific to presented antigens

Examples of Responses

Response to bacterial infections, neutralisation of toxins

Response to viral infections, tumour cell destruction

Primary Function

Protect against extracellular pathogens and toxins

Eliminate intracellular pathogens and abnormal cells

Associated Disorders

Autoimmune diseases like lupus

Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis

Evolutionary Aspect

Present in all vertebrates

More specialised and complex, evolved in vertebrates

Clinical Relevance

Vaccinationallergy treatments

Immunotherapy for cancer, organ transplant rejection management

What is Humoral Immunity?

Humoral Immunity Definition and Mechanism: This kind of immunity is produced by accessory cells known as antibodies that are released into the body fluids by B cells. It has the function of protecting the body against foreign microorganisms and removing toxins.

In this process, B cells are activated by the presence of antigens and, as a result, differentiate into plasma B cells and remember B cells. The antibodies with specificity to the antigens are produced by the plasma cells, while the memory B cells give a person immunity to the antigen in the long run.

Process of Humoral Response

B cells are efficient when an antigen invades the body because they identify it before attaching to it. They later turn into plasma cells that produce antibodies and memory B cells that ensure that response is hastened in the presence of a previous antigen.

Function of Antibodies

They inactivate the pathogens by binding to them, opsonize them, and call for the aid of the complement system to more easily dispose of the pathogens.

What is Cell-Mediated Immunity?

Cell-Mediated Immunity Definition and Mechanism:

Cell-mediated immunity emphasises the T cells, which directly attack the cells that are infected or abnormal. It is useful for killing intracellular pathogens and cancer cells, the possible removal of which may cause problems for circulation.

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Specific T cells distinguish between the body’s cells and infected ones, which are marked by foreign antigens on their surface, and kill them. Helper T cells are the common forms of T cells and help in the functioning of the other T cells, cytotoxic T cells that kill infected cells, regulatory T cells that suppress the immune response, and T memory cells that prolong the response to infection.

Types of T Cells

Helper T cells (CD4+): They also help other immune cells that are involved in the immune response by producing what is known as cytokines.

Cytotoxic T cells (CD8+): To directly kill the infected or cancerous cells selectively the ability to identify the pathogenic organism or cancerous cell is required.

Regulatory T cells: Search for ways to ensure that the immune system does not attack the body’s tissues.

Memory T cells: Acquire long-term immunity by doing the following, The immune system must be able to remember past infections to provide long-term immunity.

Process of Cell-Mediated Response

T cells are activated by the process of presentation of the antigen. Cytotoxic T cells go on to eliminate the infected cells and on the other hand, helper T cells secrete cytokines facilitating the immune response.

Humoral Immune Response vs Cell-Mediated Immune Response

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Similarities between Cell-mediated and Humoral Immunity

Aspect	Cell-mediated Immunity	Humoral Immunity
Involvement of Lymphocytes	Both involve lymphocytes (T cells in cell-mediated, B cells in humoral)	Both involve lymphocytes (B cells in humoral, T cells assist in activation)
Adaptive Immune Response	Both are part of the adaptive immune response	Both are part of the adaptive immune response
Antigen Specificity	Both are specific to particular antigens	Both are specific to particular antigens
Memory Cells Formation	Both generate memory cells for long-term immunity	Both generate memory cells for long-term immunity
Activation Requirement	Both require activation by antigens	Both require activation by antigens
Role in Immunity	Both are essential for effective immunity against pathogens	Both are essential for effective immunity against pathogens
Involvement of Helper T Cells	Helper T cells assist in activating cytotoxic T cells	Helper T cells assist in activating B cells
Interdependence	Cell-mediated immunity can influence humoral responses	Humoral immunity can influence cell-mediated responses

Vaccines and Immunotherapy

Vaccines mostly act on the TM system and elicit the production of antibodies – cells that partake in humoral immunity. Immunotherapy, especially in cancer treatment, sometimes entails activating cell-mediated immunity in an attempt to eliminate cancer cells.

Diseases and Disorders

Autoimmune diseases may occur due to humoral immunity and cellular immunity. For instance, lupus specifically impacts humoral immunity, while multiple sclerosis is, on the other hand, related to cell-mediated immunity. Primary immunodeficiencies diminish the two kinds of immune reactions, thereby raising the body’s vulnerability to diseases.

Conclusion

To sum it up, there are differences in what constitutes individual immunity types, in the way these immunity types work, and in the types of pathogens they affect. Both are important in warfare against pathogens; while human immunity is useful in combating organisms that exist outside body cells, cell-mediated immunity is useful in combating organisms that exist within body cells. Knowing all these distinctions is beneficial for the search for the proper approaches to the cure and therapy of ailments, as well as the preservation of health. The promotion of enhancing knowledge of the immune system is beneficial in the management of health and prevention of diseases.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the main difference between humoral and cell-mediated immunity?

In general, it can be indicated that the principal difference between humoral and cell-mediated immunity is based on the differences in their operations and objectives. Humoral immunity is the immunity that is offered by the antibodies that come from B cells and target pathogens that are outside the cells, such as bacteria and viruses. Cellular immunity, on the other hand, employs T cells, which are white blood cells that have a special function of identifying infected or diseased cells and then destroying them. Intracellular pathogens such as viruses are defeated by this form of immunity.

2. Which cells are involved in humoral immunity?

B cells are mainly associated with the immune response, which relies on the production of antibodies. B cells, when triggered by certain antigens, transform into plasma cells that secrete antibodies and memory B cells that confer immunological memory.

3. How do cytotoxic T cells destroy infected cells?

Cytotoxic T cells kill infected cells by binding to that cell via antigens that are present on the surface of the infected cell. They then neighbour and discharge perforins and granzymes into the infected cell, which forms pores in the cell membrane and kills the infected cell through apoptosis.

4. What role do antibodies play in humoral immunity?

There are several functions that antibodies perform in humoral immunity. They inactivate pathogens since they form a complex with them, and they cannot go on and infect the cells. They also label the pathogens to be destroyed by the process called opsonization and stimulate the complement system, which increases the ability to eliminate pathogens from the body.

5. Can both humoral and cell-mediated immunity be involved in the response to a single pathogen?

Yes, it is possible that both forms of immunity, such as humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity, can be alike in an individual pathogen. For instance, during a viral disease, antibodies are capable of blocking the virus from spreading in the body fluids, while cytotoxic T cells can identify those cells that have been infected and kill them. Such a coordinated response helps to cover the whole territory of the organism against the pathogen.