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Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are white blood cells produced by haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.B lymphocytes mature in the bone marrow and are involved in humoral immunity.They produce antibodies and secrete them into the blood plasma and tissue fluid.T lymphocytes mature in the thymus gland and are involved in cell-mediated immunity.There are a few types of T lymphocyte. Their actions range from activating and stimulating other immune cells to destroying infected cells.There are about 10 million different types of lymphocytes, each with a different cell surface receptor, each able to recognise a different antigen.The specific immune response and the action of lymphocytes is slow at first, but can confer long term immunity.

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Specification: AQA Biology (7401), AS-level, 3.2.4 Cell recognition and the immune system. Topic: Cell Recognition and the Immune System.

Key terms in this lesson

antigen
A protein or glycoprotein, usually on a cell surface, that is recognised as foreign by the immune system and triggers an immune response.
antibody
A Y-shaped protein, made of four polypeptide chains with variable regions complementary to a specific antigen, produced by B plasma cells.
humoral response
The specific immune response involving B lymphocytes, which produce and secrete antibodies into the blood and tissue fluid.
cell-mediated response
The specific immune response involving T lymphocytes, which destroy infected or abnormal cells.
tissue fluid
The fluid, formed by the filtration of blood plasma under hydrostatic pressure, that surrounds cells and supplies them with substances.

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