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Immunocompetence means the ability to recognize specific antigens with receptors and participate in adaptive immune responses. B cells and T cells are the cells that carry those antigen receptors—B cells have B cell receptors that can become antibodies, and T cells have T cell receptors that recognize peptide antigens presented by other cells. They develop in primary lymphoid organs (bone marrow for B cells and thymus for T cells) and generate receptor diversity through gene rearrangement, enabling targeted and specific immune responses.

Red blood cells lack nuclei and antigen receptors, so they cannot recognize or respond to antigens. Platelets are fragmentary cells focused on clotting and can influence inflammation but do not have antigen-specific receptors. Neurons are part of the nervous system, not the immune system. Thus, the immunocompetent components are B cells and T cells.