Cell recognition & the immune system (5) Flashcards
What is an antigen?
cell-surface molecule which stimulates immune response
What are antigens usually?
glycoproteins, sometimes glycolipids or polysaccharides
What is the advantage of the immune system recognising ‘self’ and ‘non-self’?
enables identification of cells from other organisms of same species, pathogens, toxins and abnormal body cells
How can organisms identify cells, pathogens, toxins and abnormal cells?
immune system recognises ‘self’ and non-self’
What are the 5 steps on how phagocytosis destroys pathogens?
1) phagocyte moves towards pathogen via chemotaxis
2) phagocyte engulfs pathogen via endocytosis to form a phagosome
3) phagosome fuses with lysosome (phagolysosome)
4) lysozymes digest pathogen
5) phagocyte absorbs products from pathogen hydrolysis
What are the 2 roles of antigen-presenting cells?
- macrophage displays antigen from pathogen on its surface after hydrolysis in phagocytosis
- enhances recognition by T helper cells, which cannot directly interact with pathogens/antigens in body fluid
What are the 2 types of immune response?
nonspecific
specific
What does the non-specifc response involve?
inflammation
phagocytosis
What does the specific response involve?
B and T lymphocytes
What are 2 differences between the non-specific and specific responses?
- non is same for all pathogens, specific is complementary to pathogen
- non is immediate, specific has a time lag
What are the 2 types of specific response?
cell-mediated
humoral
What are the cell-mediated and humoral responses?
types of specific immune responses
What are the 2 steps of the cell-mediated response?
1) complementary T helper lymphocytes bind to foreign antigen on antigen-presenting cells
2) release cytokines that stimulate 2 things
What 2 things do cytokines stimulate in the cell-mediated response?
- clonal expansion of complementary T helper cells (rapid mitosis) so they become memory cells or trigger the humoral response
- clonal expansion of cytotoxic T cells which secretes the enzyme perforin to destroy infected cells
What are the 3 steps of the humoral response?
1) complementary T helper lymphocytes bind to foreign antigen on antigen-presenting T cells
2) release cytokines that stimulate clonal expansion of complementary B lymphocytes
3) B cells differentiate into plasma cells which secrete antibodies with complementary variable region to antigen
What are antibodies?
proteins secreted by plasma cells
How does the quaternary structure relate to antigens?
The quaternary structure has 2 light chains which have binding sites on variable regions that have a specific tertiary structure complementary to an antigen. The rest of the molecule is known as the constant region.
How do antibodies lead to the destruction of a pathogen?
form antigen-antibody complex which results in agglutination, which enhances phagocytosis
What are monoclonal antibodies?
antibodies produced from a single clone of B cells