Difference Between Humoral And Cell Mediated Immunity

Humoral Immunity and cell-mediated immunity are part of adaptive immunity. Humoral immunity is always active in the body it is associated with circulating antibodies in contrast to cell-mediated antibodies  B-cell itself and produces large amounts of antibodies against the pathogen, while in cell-mediated immunity mature T-cells (T-helper and T-cytotoxic), macrophages will produce cytokines and interferons to act against antigens.

Humoral  Immunity

Humoral itself meaning is body fluids and with regards to immune responses, antibodies that are produced by the body fluid in response to pathogens are called humoral immunity. It is a quick response against the pathogen that is detected in blood cells. Once the pathogen enters the body and starts to multiply in extracellular space, therefore, extracellular space is an important place to destroy pathogens. Antibodies produced by the plasma B-cells that occur in body fluids are bound (Specific molecules) to the microbes and neutralize them the process called opsonization. The extracellular spaces of the body are mostly protected by humoral immunity. 

Cell-Mediated Immunity

The immunity that is provided by cells, cellular immune response that does not include antibodies, and antibodies may be involved in the bridge between the origin of the cytotoxic cell. Cellular immunity directly activates phagocytic cells that are secreted by T-helper and T-cytotoxic cells, after getting a signal from the MHC molecule by getting a response from the B-cells, T-cells are produced in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus after that they enter in the bloodstream. Once the T-cell encounters antigen they proliferate and differentiate in armed effector cells and leading to phagocytosis of pathogen and infected cells. T cytotoxic cells destroy the infected cells by inducing apoptosis, and T Helper cells start producing IgM, IgG is the major type of antibody in response to B-cells.

Similarities

• Humoral and cell-mediated immunity are both types of adaptive immune response.
• Both produce a specific immune response to particular pathogens.
• In transplant (kidney/ Heart/Liver) both show graft rejection.
• Humoral and cell-mediated immunity are not effective in immunodeficient individuals.

Difference between Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity

The major difference between humoral and Cell-mediated immunity is humoral immunity produces antibodies against the infection and cell-mediated immunity T-lymphocytes and macrophages kill the pathogen by triggering them to apoptosis.

Humoral Immunity	Cell-Mediated Immunity
Pathogen
Humoral( Humor-body fluid) immunity is mediated by macromolecules found in pathogens.	Pathogens are recognized and destroyed by cells that are active against pathogens.
Activation
Always active in the body and circulated by body fluid.	To be active need to be triggered by mature T-Cells and macrophages.
Mediator
The main cell involved in humoral immunity is B-cell.	The main cell involves mature T-cells,&Lymphocytes.
Components
These produce components of B-cell and T-cell antibodies.	These produce components of T-Helper and T-Cytotoxic cells NK-cells and macrophages.
Secretion
It directly secrets body fluids.	First, it produces in the bone marrow and then thymus for maturation and then releases to body fluids.
Defense
It is the first line of defense.	It is acting as the second line of defense.
Memory
It develops through short-term responses against pathogens.	It develops after the concentration of B-cell antibodies increases and is recognized by the MHC-II molecule.
It has a short-term memory.	It has a long-term memory.
Saturation Point
It has a saturation point after the continuous increase in concentration.	It doesn’t have the saturation point because it is continually recycled through apoptosis.
Action Mechanism
It acts against the antigen and can’t lead to apoptosis of the pathogen against whom it is active.	T-cells, Lymphocytes, and NK-cells are led to apoptosis by the direct action against the pathogen
Pathogen & Recognition
Humoral immunity acts against extracellular pathogens.	Cell-mediated immunity acts against intracellular pathogens.
Humoral Immunity directly recognizes the pathogens in the body fluids.	Cell-mediated immunity nee MHC class I &II molecule to display pathogens and recognizes them.
Antibodies are not needed to process directly recognized and attached to the macromolecule.	Needed to process and recognizes T-lymphocytes which then leads to apoptosis.
B- cell receptors are involved that are found always extracellular in body fluids.	T-cell receptors are involved that are present intracellular.
Immune Responses
Antibodies are formed by B-cell and T-cell antibodies.	Antibodies are not formed by direct effector cells produced.
Onset responses are rapid and short-term.	Onset responses are delayed long-term responses.
Does provide against viruses, and bacteria, but not against cancer.	Can act against the cancer cell. Sometimes can destroy the cancer cell.
Most Research
Not effective and no modification in antibodies for cancer immunotherapy is being studied.	Cytotoxic T-cells are the most studied for use in immunotherapy. This is effective against cancer cells.
Humoral immunity always produces antibodies that are in higher concentration.	They are not always in higher concentration.
Secretion of Antibodies
They produce IgE, IgM, IgG, IgD, and IgA antibodies.	They produce cytotoxic cells, Lymphocytes, T-helper cells, T-cytotoxic cells, Natural Killer Cells, and Macrophages.
Affect And Response
It can lead to autoimmune diseases.	It can lead to autoimmune disease.
It is involved in early graft rejection due to performing antibodies.	It participates in the rejection of organ transplantation.
Immunological Surveillance
It does not provide immunological surveillance.	It provides immunological surveillance because it has an MHC class of molecules.
Immunological Assessment
Assessment from plasma levels of antibodies.	Assessment from skin test for the development of a delayed type of hypersensitivity.

Summary

Humoral Immunity and cell-mediated immunity both are mediated by cells both are active immunities. Humoral immunity act as the first line of defense, it can’t be provided by external sources. They both have memory but the humoral has short-term memory and cell-mediated is long-term memory. Humoral immunity only neutralizes the pathogen and in cell-mediated immunity the cell act as phagocytic cells. Humoral immunity directly secrets in the body fluid and cells are produced by spleens and they are mature in the thymus. Cell-mediated immunity requires signals from B-cells, Humoral immunity(B-cells) are direct secrets and detect pathogens. Both are not effective in immunocompromised patients.

FAQs on Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity

Question 1: What is Humoral immunity?

Answer:

Humoral immunity type of adoptive immunity mediated by macromolecule found in extracellular body fluid.

Question 2: What is Cell-mediated immunity?

Answer:

This type of immunity mediated by T-lymphocyte , NK-cell, and other immune cells of body.

Question 3: After attacking viruses which type of antibodies is active against the virus?

Answer:

IgE will active against the virus and allergic reaction.

Question 4: What is a major difference between Humoral and Cell-Mediated immunity?

Answer:

In humoral-immunity antibodies produces, in cell mediated immunity pathogen will go to apoptosis.