BRAINCAKEThe Humoral Response
The humoral response is the part of the specific immune response that involves B cells and the antibodies they produce. 'Humoral' refers to body fluids: antibodies circulate in blood plasma, lymph and tissue fluid, so this response works against pathogens and toxins outside cells.
The response happens in a sequence:
1. Antigen presentation: a macrophage engulfs a pathogen by phagocytosis and displays its antigens on MHC proteins, becoming an antigen-presenting cell (APC).
2. T helper cell activation: a T helper cell with a complementary receptor binds to the presented antigen. It is activated and divides to form a clone of T helper cells.
3. B cell sensitisation: a B cell with complementary antibody receptors binds the same antigen, takes it in by endocytosis and presents it on its own MHC proteins.
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More in Response to Infection
- Phagocytosis
- Lymphocytes
- B cells
- T Cells
- The Effector Stage
- Clonal Selection
- Antibodies
- The Cell-Mediated Response
All 20 lessons in Response to Infection · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics