Chapter 7 - Immunity Flashcards
autoantibody
antibodies that mistakenly target and react with a person’s own tissues or organs
B lymphocytes (B cell)
A type of white blood cell. B lymphocytes are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. B cells are primarily responsible for humoral immunity
T lymphocytes (T cell)
A type of white blood cell. T lymphocytes are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. T cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity.
cytotoxic (i.e. killer T) cells
Destroy antigens, cancer cells, virus-infected cells
Memory T cells
T cells that remember antigen and quickly stimulate immune response on re-exposure
Helper T cells
Activate B and T cells; control or limit specific immune response
NK lymphocytes
Natural killer cells destroy foreign cells, virus-infected cells, and cancer cells
Kinins (eg, bradykinin)
Cause vasodilation, increased permeability (edema), and pain
Prostaglandins
Group of lipids with varying effects; some cause inflammation, vasodilation and increased permeability (edema), and pain
Leukotrienes
Group of lipids, derived from mast cells and basophils, which cause contraction of bronchiolar smooth muscle and have a role in development of inflammation
Cytokines (messengers)
any of a number of substances, such as interferon, interleukin, and growth factors, which are secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells
tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
A cytokine active in the inflammatory and immune responses; stimulates fever, chemotaxis, mediator of tissue wasting, stimulates T cells, mediator in septic shock (decreasing blood pressure), stimulates necrosis in some tumors
chemotactic factors
substances that stimulate cellular locomotion/migration
lymphocyte
a form of small leukocyte (white blood cell) with a single round nucleus, occurring especially in the lymphatic system
humoral immunity
also called antibody-mediated immunity. With assistance from helper T cells, B cells will differentiate into plasma B cells that can produce antibodies against a specific antigen
cell-mediated immunity
an immune response that does not involve antibodies; instead, it uses phagocytes, antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and the release of various cytokines in response to an antigen
interleukin
any of a class of glycoproteins produced by leukocytes for regulating immune responses
mononuclear phagocytic system
also called macrophage system or reticuloendothelial system; they are a class of cells that occur in widely separated parts of the human body and that have in common the property of phagocytosis
immunoglobulins
any of a class of proteins present in the serum and cells of the immune system, which function as antibodies
cytometry
the measurement of the characteristics of cells
colostrum
the first form of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals (including humans) immediately following delivery of the newborn
polymer
a substance or material consisting of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits
monomer
a molecule that can react together with other monomer molecules to form a larger polymer chain or three-dimensional network in a process called polymerization
titer
- the concentration of a solution as determined by titration
- the concentration of an antibody, as determined by finding the highest dilution at which it is still able to cause agglutination of the antigen
agglutination
a mass or group formed by the union of separate elements
titration
process of chemical analysis in which the quantity of some constituent of a sample is determined by adding to the measured sample an exactly known quantity of another substance with which the desired constituent reacts in a definite, known proportion
natural immunity
a species specific form of immunity (i.e. a human can’t get a cats-only disease)
innate immunity
an immunity of disease given by genes
primary response to an antigen
a response that occurs when a person is first exposed to an antigen. During exposure the antigen is recognized and processed, and subsequent development of antibodies or sensitized T lymphocytes is initiated
secondary response to an antigen
a response that results when a repeat exposure to the same antigen occurs. This response is much more rapid and results in higher antibody levels than the primary response. Even years later the memory cells quickly stimulate production of large numbers of the matching antibodies or T cells.
four ways to acquire immunity
(1) natural active: host exposed to a pathogen and develops antibodies
(2) artificial active: host given a vaccine and develops antibodies
(3) natural passive: antibodies passed from mother to child
(4) artificial passive: antibodies directly inserted into host to protect or control the disease (antibodies are given directly and not formed by the person)
antiserum
a blood serum containing antibodies against specific antigens, injected to treat or protect against specific diseases
vaccine
a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease
allograft
also called a homograft; a tissue graft from a donor of the same species as the recipient but not genetically identical
isograft
Tissue transferred between two genetically identical bodies (eg, identical twins)
autograft
Tissue transferred from one part of the body to another part on the same individual (eg, skin or bone)
xenograft
also called a heterograft; Tissue transferred from a member of one species to a different species (eg, pig to human)
rejection in organ or tissue transplants
a complex process in which the body’s immune system rejects tissue or organs that have been grafted onto or into it
hyperacute rejection
organ/tissue transplant rejection that occurs immediately
acute rejection
organ/tissue transplant rejection that occurs several weeks after the new organ/tissue is installed
chronic rejection
also called late rejection; organ/tissue rejection that occurs after months or years
immunosuppression
the partial or complete suppression of the immune response of an individual. It is induced to help the survival of an organ after a transplant operation
pruritus
an unpleasant sensation of the skin that provokes the urge to scratch
vesicle
(1) a membranous and usually fluid-filled pouch (such as a cyst, vacuole, or cell) in a plant or animal
(2) a small abnormal elevation of the outer layer of skin enclosing a watery liquid (i.e. blister)
(3) a pocket of embryonic tissue that is the beginning of an organ
(4) a small cavity in a mineral or rock
EpiPen
Persons who have experienced acute allergic or anaphylactic reactions often carry an injectable epinephrine (EpiPen) with them because there are only seconds or minutes between the exposure to the allergen and the body’s collapse. Epinephrine acts to increase blood pressure by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system; it causes vasoconstriction and increases the rate and strength of the heartbeat. This drug also relaxes the bronchial smooth muscle, opening the airway.
autoimmune disorder
a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells
Type I hypersensitivity
(or immediate hypersensitivity) an allergic reaction provoked by re-exposure to a specific type of antigen referred to as an allergen
Type II hypersensitivity
an antibody mediated process in which antibodies are directed against antigens on cells (such as circulating red blood cells) or extracellular material (such as basement membrane). This subsequently leads to cell lysis, tissue damage or loss of function
Type III hypersensitivity
occurs when there is accumulation of immune complexes (antigen-antibody complexes) that have not been adequately cleared by innate immune cells, giving rise to an inflammatory response and attraction of leukocytes. Such reactions may progress to immune complex diseases.
Type IV hypersensitivity
often called delayed type hypersensitivity as the reaction takes several days to develop. Unlike the other types, it is not antibody-mediated but rather is a type of cell-mediated response. This response involves the interaction of T-cells, monocytes, and macrophages.
immune complex
(sometimes called an antigen-antibody complex or antigen-bound antibody) a molecule formed from the binding of multiple antigens to antibodies
immune complex disease
a group of conditions resulting from inflammation and tissue damage induced in tissues where immune complexes are formed or deposited
hypersensitivity (immune system)
undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system, including allergies and autoimmunity
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
the most common type of lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.
lupus
a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease)
primary immunodeficiency
a basic developmental failure somewhere in the immune system (eg, in the bone marrow’s production of stem cells), the thymus, or the synthesis of antibodies. Many defects result from a genetic or congenital abnormality and are first noticed in infants and children.
secondary immunodeficiency
also called acquired immunodeficiency; refers to loss of the immune response resulting from specific causes and may occur at any time during the lifespan. Loss of the immune response can occur with infection, particularly viral infection, splenectomy (removal of the spleen), malnutrition or liver disease (hypoproteinemia—low serum protein level), use of immunosuppressive drugs in clients with organ transplants, and radiation and chemotherapy for cancer treatment.
antibiotic prophylaxis
the use of antibiotics before surgery or a dental procedure to prevent a bacterial infection
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
a chronic infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
retrovirus
any of a group of RNA viruses which insert a DNA copy of their genome into the host cell in order to replicate, e.g. HIV.
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
a method widely used to rapidly make millions to billions of copies (complete copies or partial copies) of a specific DNA sample, allowing scientists to take a very small sample of DNA and amplify it (or a part of it) to a large enough amount to study in detail
tuberculosis
a potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs
