4/5 Innate Immunity and Complement Flashcards
Innate immune system function
First line of defense: identify/ initiate inflammation, eliminate and repair, and activate and regulate adaptive immunity.
Characteristics of innate immunity
No memory or specificity, (no protective immunity) rapid response
3 barrier types of the innate immune system:
Anatomical barriers (skin and mucous membranes)
Physiological barriers: chemical-mediated, involves microflora and the enzymes they produce
Phagocytic barriers: cell-mediated, using macrophages and neutrophils
Chemical defensive barriers
Lysozyme, stomach acid, defensins (microbes can kill organisms like them who compete for resources) and lactoferring (prevents iron-scavenging of infectious bodies)
Types of phagocytic barriers
Monocytes (bloodstream) and macrophages (all connective tissue and organs)
Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes/ PMNs)
Recognition of foreign particles
- Pattern recognition receptors
—> conserved, found on PHAGOCYTIC cells including antigen-presenting dendritic cells, recognize PAMPs and DAMPs
Function of phagocytosis
Uptake of particulate material from the local environment by specialized cells (Macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic/ antigen-presenting cells)
—> engulfment and internalization of materials for their clearance and destruction
Steps of the phagocytic process
- Antigen binds to PRRs on membrane evaginations called pseudopodia
- Antigen is ingested, forming phagosome
- Phagosome fuses with lysosome
- Antigen killed and digested by low pH-activated lysosomal enzymes (lysozymes) which include reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
- Digestion products are released from the cell
What are PAMPs? Two examples:
Pathogen associated molecular patterns (epitopes not present on host cells). These target cells for clearance and shortens response time.
Examples: Viral RNA, or bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan
What are PRRs?
Pattern recognition receptors: found on phagocytic cells and recognize PAMPs and DAMPs
Four most common types of PRRs
Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs)
C-type lectin receptor (CLR)
RIG-I-like receptor (RLR)
NOD-like receptors (NLR)
Toll-Like Receptor; location on the cell, and to what types of molecules do they bind?
Found on surface and within cells (to recognize both extracellular and intracellular PAMPs)
Different TLRs recognize different PAMPs
(Extracellular: Gram + and - Bacteria, parasites, fungi, flagella)
(Intracellular: viral components and some bacterial DNA)
TLR activation pathways
Activates transcription factors to stimulate expression of cytokines, enzymes etc
C-type lectin receptors: location and recognition types
Extracellular pathogens (located on membrane) recognizes carbohydrate components of fungi, viruses, mycobacterium, parasites and allergens. Transcription factors activated promote expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1B, TNF, IL-23)
NOD-like Receptors: cell location and primary targets
Located intracellularly, and recognize components of cells walls (muramic acid), NOD1 and NOD2 bind to these PAMPs, while NLRP-3 binds microbial products and DAMPs. Induces expression of antimicrobial proteins and peptides, and can initiate autophagy by forming autophagosomes that fuse with lysosomes to kill bacteria.
RIG-I-like receptors, cell location and primary targets
Work in the cytosol and recognize viral double-stranded RNAs, which is bound by the RLR helicase domain. Triggers the pathway to activated interferons to trigger antiviral interferon responses
Killing Mechanism of phagocytosis
Kill with enzymes: lysozyme and acid hydrolase’s to dissolve/ digest, lactoferrin and Vitamin B12-binding protein to sequester nutrients pathogen would need to grow, and defensins and cationic proteins to direct antimicrobials to site of infection.
Also use reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are directly toxic to bacteria
When phagocytic cells encounter invading microbes, name one transcription factor that is activated
NF-kB