12 THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Flashcards
What is the primary function of the immune system?
To identify anything in the body that shouldn’t be there and, if necessary, kill it.
Name three components of the immune system that are often overlooked.
- Earwax
- Skin
- Tears
What are the five types of white blood cells?
- Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
- Basophils
- Neutrophils
- Eosinophils
What are the two principal types of lymphocytes?
- B cells
- T cells
Where are B cells produced in humans?
In the bone marrow.
What role does the thymus play in the immune system?
It is a nursery for T cells.
What are the two further categories of T cells?
- Helper T cells
- Killer T cells
What is the function of memory T cells?
To remember details of earlier invaders and coordinate a swift response upon re-exposure.
Fill in the blank: Vaccination is a way of inducing the body to produce useful antibodies against a particular scourge without actually making oneself ______.
[sick]
What is a cytokine storm?
A situation where the immune system gets ramped up and fires all its defenses, potentially leading to severe consequences.
True or False: The immune system only deals with pathogens.
False.
What is the significance of Peter Medawar’s discovery regarding skin grafts?
He found that the immune system learns early in life not to attack its own normal, healthy cells.
Who was the first kidney transplant recipient?
Richard Herrick.
What was unique about Richard Herrick’s kidney transplant?
He received the kidney from his identical twin, Ronald, allowing for a perfect tissue match.
What can excessive inflammation lead to?
Destruction of neighboring tissues and unnecessary pain.
What is the role of antibodies in the immune response?
To recognize and fight off previous invaders quickly.
What does the term ‘autoimmune disease’ refer to?
Conditions where the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy cells.
List two examples of autoimmune diseases.
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lupus
What happens during inflammation in the body?
Blood vessels dilate, allowing more white blood cells to flow to the site of injury.
Fill in the blank: Interleukin-1 not only attacks pathogens but also plays a role in ______.
[sleep]
What is the estimated percentage of people suffering from autoimmune diseases?
About 5 percent.
What did Jacques Miller discover about the thymus?
That it serves as a nursery for T cells.
What is the main challenge faced by the immune system?
To identify and respond to a vast array of potential invaders.
True or False: The immune system functions the same way in every individual.
False.
What is the primary role of neutrophils?
To fight off infections and respond to injury.
What type of immune cells are involved in producing antibodies?
B cells.
What is the relationship between stress and the immune system?
Increased stress can lead to a higher likelihood of infection.
What is the function of cytokines in the immune response?
To signal other immune cells and mediate the immune response.
What was the distinct possibility regarding the outcome of the surgery on the Herrick brothers?
Both brothers might die.
Who was the lead surgeon for the Herrick brothers’ operation?
Dr. Joseph Murray.
What was the original disease that affected Richard Herrick?
Glomerulonephritis.
How long did Richard Herrick live after the transplant?
Eight years.
How long did Ronald Herrick live after donating a kidney?
Fifty-six years.
In what year was Dr. Joseph Murray awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine?
1990.
What drug allowed kidney transplants to become more routine?
Cyclosporine.
What percentage of people who receive an organ transplant in the US are alive twelve months later?
Over 95 percent.
As of late 2018, how many people were on transplant waiting lists in the United States?
114,000 people.
What is the average number of people who die daily on the transplant waiting list in the US?
Twenty people.
What is one potential solution for the shortage of human organs for transplant?
Animal transplants.
What are two main problems associated with using animal organs for transplants?
- Savage immune response
- Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs)
What is the average waiting time for a kidney transplant in the US as of 2021?
3.6 years.
What percentage of kidney transplants come from living donors?
About a third.
What are immunosuppressive drugs used for in transplant patients?
To prevent organ rejection.
How many types of autoimmune diseases are humans afflicted by?
About fifty types.
What did Burrill Crohn describe in 1932?
Crohn’s disease.
What was the prevalence of Crohn’s disease before 1932?
One in 50,000.
What factor is suggested to have made people more susceptible to autoimmune diseases?
Overuse of antibiotics.
What is the gender disparity in autoimmune diseases?
80 percent occur in women.
What is the definition of an allergy?
An inappropriate response by the body to a normally harmless invader.
What percentage of people claim to be allergic to at least one thing?
Roughly 50 percent.
What term describes the condition of being allergic to multiple substances?
Atopy.
What is the most common cause of anaphylaxis in America?
Penicillin.
What did the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recommend regarding peanut allergies?
Expose young children to peanuts to minimize allergies.
What is the hygiene hypothesis?
The idea that cleaner environments lead to increased allergies.
What is the old friends hypothesis?
A broader version of the hygiene hypothesis focusing on accumulated lifestyle changes.
What is immunotherapy?
Using the body’s immune defenses to fight diseases.
What is immune checkpoint therapy?
A therapy that overrides stop signals sent by cancer cells to the immune system.
What is CAR T-cell therapy?
A therapy involving genetically altering T cells to attack cancer cells.
What is a major concern regarding CAR T-cell therapy?
Cost, which can exceed $500,000 per patient.
What is the relationship between allergies and economic performance?
Allergy rates increase with higher economic performance.
