Acquired cell-mediated immunity involves

All three of these mechanisms will be highlighted in the discussion of the five basic steps of an acquired immune response, which are illustrated below and which are depicted in Figure 2 for the generation of an antibody response. It is important to emphasize that these same five steps are involved in the generation of a cell-mediated immune response ... 

The theoretieal baekground whieh underlies immunity to infection has been discussed in detail in Chapter 14. Immunity to infeetion may be passively acquired through the receipt of preformed, proteetive antibodies or it may be aetively acquired through an immune response following deliberate or accidental exposure to microorganisms or their eomponent parts. Aetive aequired immunity might involve either or both humoral and cell-mediated responses. 

Immunosuppressive effects Glucocorticoids inhibit some of the mechanisms involved in cell-mediated immunologic functions, especially those dependent on lymphocytes. These agents are actively lymphotoxic and are important in the treatment of hematologic cancers. The drugs do not interfere with the development of normal acquired immunity but delay rejection reactions in patients with organ transplants. 

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