Allergies and Tolerances

Question 1

Adverse reactions to food (ARF)

Answer 1

encompass food allergies and food intolerances, both of which can result in distressing symptoms and adversely affect health

Question 2

Atopy

Answer 2

a condiiton of genetic predisposition to produce excessive IgE antibodies in response to an ellergen that results in the development of typical symptoms such as asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, or eczema

Question 3

Food allergy

Answer 3

an adverse immune-mediated reaction to a food, usually a food protein, glycoprotein, or hapten that the person has been sensitized to, and which, when eaten, causes the release of inflammatory mediators or chemicals that act on body tissues and result in symptoms

Question 4

Food autoimmune or immune reactivity

Answer 4

the concept that when the body’s normal tolerance of friendly antigenic substances (autoantigens produced by an individual’s body) is disrupted because of disease, injury, shock, trauma, surgery, drugs, blood transfusion, or environmental triggers, the ingestion of foods containing antigenic substances with a composition similar to those of the body’s autoantigens can result in the production of antibodies that react to the food antigens and the body’s own tissues

Question 5

Food intolerance

Answer 5

an adverse reaction to a food or food additive that does not involve the immune system and results from the body’s inability to digest, absorb, or metabolize a food or component of the food

Question 6

Food sensitivity

Answer 6

a term often used to describe a reaction when it is unclear whetehr it is immunologically mediated or due to biochemical or physiologic defect

Question 7

Oral tolerance

Answer 7

the process that allows an individual to eat food (which is ‘‘foreign’’) without any ill effects or reactions to it

Question 8

Sensitivity-related illness

Answer 8

the concept that an individual who is exposed to some type of toxicant or insult may then, by as yet unclear mechanisms, become sensitive to a food, inhalant or chemical

Question 9

The immune system arsenal

Answer 9

• Innate immune system
• Adaptive immune system; T cells, B cells, memory cells
• Antibodies
• Complement system
• Cytokines
• Natural killer cells
• Interferons
• Mucosal immunity

Question 10

What is the innate immune system?

Answer 10

• Innate immune system: first line of defense and includes mechanisms such as phagocytosis (engulfing and destroying pathogens) by cells like white blood cells; monocytes, granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils), lymphocytes, and macrophages, inflammation to limit the spread of pathogens, and the release of antimicrobial proteins and peptides (AMPs) like interferons (these proteins are produced in response to viral infections and help limit the spread of viruses by inhibiting viral replication and activating other immune cells.)

Question 11

What is the adaptive immune system?

Answer 11

This system provides a more specific response to pathogens. It is charcterized by specificity, immunological memory and self/nonself recognition. It includes:

T lymphocytes (T cells): These cells help coordinate the immune response and can directly kill infected cells or activate other immune cells.
B lymphocytes (B cells): These cells produce antibodies that can neutralize pathogens or target them for destruction by other immune cells.
Memory cells: Both T and B cells can develop into memory cells, which allow for a faster and more effective response upon re-exposure to the same pathogen.

Question 12

What are antibodies?

Answer 12

These proteins are produced by B cells and help neutralize pathogens by binding to them and marking them for destruction by other immune cells. They contain immunoglobins (Ig).

Question 13

What is the complement system?

Answer 13

This is a group of proteins that work together to enhance the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens.

Question 14

What are cytokines?

Answer 14

These are signaling molecules that help regulate the immune response by coordinating the activities of different immune cells.

Question 15

What are natural killer (NK) cells?

Answer 15

These cells can directly kill infected or cancerous cells without the need for prior activation.

Question 16

What is mucosal immunity?

Answer 16

This specialized immune response occurs at mucosal surfaces such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, providing protection against pathogens at these entry points.

Question 17

What happen sin the process of making antibodies?

Answer 17

The B-cells convert to plasma cells and the antibodies, or IgE, is generated from the plasma cells. These allergen-specific antibodies attach themselves to mast cells (in the lungs, skin, tongue and linngs of the nose and intestinal tract) or basophils (in circulation)