4. Immunology Flashcards
2 different immune systems
- non-specific/innate immunity
- specific/adaptive immunity
Non-specific / Innate immunity
- first line of defense
- no pathogen recognition
- same response each time
Specific / Adaptive immunity
- requires pathogen recognition
- faster response with 2nd exposure to pathogen: memory cells formed
primary lymphoid organs is the place where…
stem cells divide and immune cells develop
primary lymphoid organs (2)
- bone marrow (yolk sac and fetal liver in embryo)
- thymus
bone marrow is where
- immature B cell and T cell are produced
- B cells mature
thymus key functions
- T cell maturation site
- contains T cells, dendritic cells, epithelial cells and macrophages
- atrophies after maturity
secondary lymphoid organs is where…
most immune responses occur
secondary lymphoid organs (3)
- lymph nodes
- spleen
- lymphoid nodules
lymph nodes
- scattered throughout the body
- contain macrophages that phagocytose microbes entering lymph
spleen
- removes microbes and old erythrocytes
- largest lymphoid organ
lymphoid nodules
tonsils, appendix, Peyer’s Patches and Mucosal-Associated Lymphoid Tissues (MALT)
Immune cells are produced by…
lymphoid and myeloid stem cells
lymphoid cells: lymphocytes
- T cells
- B cells
- NK cells
myeloid cells
- neutrophils
- monocytes
- eosinophils
- basophils
- mast cells
neutrophils
phagocytes responsible for bacteria eating
monocytes
become macrophages and dendritic cells (phagocytes)
eosinophils
destroy parasites
basophils
release chemicals: i.e histamine
mast cells
release chemicals: i.e. histamine
myeloid cells filled with secretory granules
- eosinophils
- basophils
- mast cells
innate immune system (def)
ability of body to defend against microbes/foreign substances without recognition of the invading pathogen
2 lines of defense in innate immunity
- 1st line of defense = physical barriers
- 2nd line of defense = cellular and humoral factors
first line of defense
barriers to entry, creating unpleasant environment for microorganisms
physical and mechanical barriers to first line of defense
- skin: water resistant
- tight junctions in epithelia
- mucus
- hair and cilia
chemical and microbiological barriers to first line of defense
- normal flora
- secretions:
–> sebum (low pH)
–> lysosomes
–> gastric juice
second of line of defense
humoral and cellular factors
humoral response (def)
includes substances that are dissolved in tissues
humoral factors (4)
- interferons
- complement: C3b
- iron-binding proteins: transferrin
- antibodies
inflammation
non-specific response to tissue damage
4 inflammation signs
- redness
- heat
- pain
- swelling
3 stages of inflammation
- vasodilation
- Emigration of phagocytes
- tissue repair
Inflammation: vasodilation
- widening of blood vessels to increase blood flow and stretch capillary
- increased permeability of capillaries to allow substances to reach damaged site
inflammation: emigration of phagocytes
- Chemotaxis: chemically stimulated movement of phagocytes
- Margination: phagocyte sticks to endothelial cel
- Diapedesis: phagocyte crosses capillary wall to reach site of injury
what triggers vasodilation?
signals from fixed-tissue macrophages
specific role of neutrophils in inflammation
- die in the process of killing bacteria
- form NETs: Neutrophil Extracellular Traps when they lyse
- sticky pus produced: mixture of dead bacteria and neutrophils, to prevent more bacteria moving further
type I interferons
prevent viral replication by binding to uninfected cells, allowing them to produce antiviral proteins
C3b Complement
plasma protein that sticks to bacteria (opsonisation) to make it more recognisable for phagocytes
iron-binding proteins: Transferrin
binds to iron so it can’t be used by bacteria to grow/replicate
cellular factors (3)
- Natural Killer cells (NK cells)
- phagocytes
- cells with inflammatory mediators
Natural Killer cells (NK cells)
lymphocytes that target virus-infected cells and cancer cells:
- if a cell lacks MHC-I, NK cell can only bind to its activating ligand which activates NK cell for killing
- normal body cells: NK cells can bind to MHC-I and activating ligand –> stable configuration: no killing activated
cells with inflammatory mediators
- basophils
- mast cells
- eosinophils
phagocytes
non-specifically engulf microbial invaders
different types of phagocytes
- fixed-tissue macrophages: already in tissue
- neutrophils: recruited at injury site
- monocytes: become macrophages and dendritic cells
examples of fixed-tissue macrophages
PAMPs and TLRs
phagocytosis (process)
- endocytosis of microbe: phagosome formed
- lysosome fuses with phagosome to form phagolysosome
- phagolysosome releases end products into and out of cell
Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR)
recognise Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) and send out signals