2 Immune Cells And Organs Flashcards
*Q: What is the process of lymphocyte production called?
A: LYMPHOPOIESIS
*Q: What are lymphoid organs? What are they the site of?
A: Tissue in which lymphocytes interact with non-lymphoid cells.
Sites of initiation and maturation of adaptive immune response
*Q: What are the primary lymphoid organs where T and B lymphocytes develop? What are the precursors for B and T cells?
A: Thymus - T cell maturation
Bone Marrow - B cell maturation
haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow
*Q: 3 secondary lymphoid organs.
A: Lymph nodes
Spleen (white pulp)
Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT)
Q: Are defects in primary and secondary lymphoid organs dangerous? What can treat them?
A: A defect in the primary lymphoid organs is very serious because you won’t produce your own lymphocytes. This can only be treated with stem cell transplant.
We can manage without some of our secondary lymphoid organs
Q: Anatomically, where is the thymus?
A: below the thyroid gland
Q: What does the microscopic analysis of a stained section of thymus show?
A: shows lobules within the lobes which are packed with lymphocytes
Medulla (middle) - NOT very stained
Cortex (periphery) - VERY stained
*Q: What is the thymus structure? Diagram.
A: bi lobed
lobules within the lobes which are packed with lymphocytes
There are septa dividing the lobe into lobules-> each lobule is histologically defined regions of cortex and medulla
cortex contains immature thymocytes-> some are selected to become mature thymocytes in medulla
It has a capsule
In human’s you get whirls of fibroblasts called HASSALL’S CORPUSCLES= where regulatory T lymphocytes develop
REFER
Q: What is the role of regulatory T lymphocytes?
A: important role in helping regulate our immune responses.
*Q: How does the thymus appearance change after stimulation by an antigen (infection)?
A: no obvious changes
Q: How does thymic output change with age? What happens? ->(7)
A: reduced output of new T cells
The total number stays the same
LESS DIVERSE repertoire of T cells
More memory cells
They become OLIGOCLONAL - less diverse
more fatty tissue in the thymus - size of the thymus DECREASES
Q: What happens to T cells in the thymus?
A: T-cells are ‘educated’ - learn how to recognise cells presenting the antigen in the thymus
*Q: How do lymphocytes and APCs recirculate?
A: Lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells recirculate through lymphatic vessels: FROM tissues VIA lymph nodes and the spleen INTO the blood
Q: What does the lymphatic system allow? (2)
A: Allows all fluid to be drained through the lymph nodes where it is filtered to identify any pathogens before it goes back into the blood.
Allows you to find out whether there is an infection in the body and where the infection is.
*Q: What is the structure of a lymph node? Diagram.
A: Blood supply-
Afferent - IN = several vessels
Efferent - OUT = one (at hilus)
B cell areas tend to be on the outside- aggregate into FOLLICLES
REFER
round/kidney shape and have indentation at hilus where blood vessels enter and leave node
medulla surrounded by paracortex (T cell area) and cortex around that (B cell area)
*Q: How does the structure of a lymph node change upon infection? (3)
A: PROLIFERATION of B lymphocytes - GERMINAL CENTER forms
Germinal Center - lymphocytes are rapidly proliferating to produce antibodies against the pathogen which caused the infection.
This makes your lymph nodes swell
Q: How do lymphocytes enter the lymph nodes?
A: come in the circulation and leave via high endothelial venules and enter the lymph nodes.
They are directed by CHEMOKINE gradients via chemokinesis to their correct position.
Q: How is an immune response triggered in a lymph node?
A: Dendritic cells migrate through the lymph and into the lymph nodes where it presents antigens to recirculating lymphocytes to trigger an immune response