Chapter 8: The Immune System Flashcards
Two divisions of the immune system
Innate immunity (non-specific immunity)
Adaptive immunity (specific immunity)
Innate immunity (non specific immunity)
Composed of defenses that are always active against infection, but lack the ability to target specific invaders. Also called non-specific immunity. Mount a faster attack than adaptive immunity. All Granulocytes are part of the innate immunity. Complement system.
Adaptive immunity (specific immunity)
Refers to the defenses that target specific pathogens. Also called specific immunity. Slower to act than innate immunity, but can maintain immunological memory of an infection to mount a faster attack and subsequent infections.
Structures and components of the immune system
Bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, appendix, Peyer’s patches (located in small intestine).
Spleen
Storage area for white blood cells and platelets, recycle red blood cells, filter blood and lymph.
Activation of B – cells (B-cells are a part of the adaptive immunity. B-cells turn into plasma cells to produce antibodies as part of the adaptive immune system).
Bone marrow
Produces all of the leukocytes (white blood cells) and erythrocytes (red blood cells). Leukocytes participate in the immune system through the process of hematopoiesis.
Remember: lueko means white.
B-cell (stored and activated by what organ? what do they turn into?)
B cells are stored in and activated by the spleen, also activated by lymph nodes. B cells can turn into plasma cells (plasma or effector B cells). B cells create antibodies. B cells are a part of the adaptive immunity.
Plasma cells
Produce antibodies as part of adaptive immunity. Preceded by B cells. Plasma cells (and B cells) are a part of humoral immunity.
Mature but naive B cells
When B cells leave the bone marrow, they are considered mature (capable of functioning) but naive because they have not yet been exposed to an antigen and created antibodies.
Humoral immunity
Humoral immunity produces antigen-specific antibodies and is primarily driven by B cells. B cells dissolve and act in the blood (as opposed to cell mediated immunity)
Think B cells (mature in the Bone) - adaptive immunity - humoral (fluid) immunity
T cells
Adaptive (specific) immunity, develop in the bone marrow, mature in the Thymus, cell mediated immunity.
Directly kill VIRALLY INFECTED cells, et al.
B cells v T cells (superficial)
B cells create antibodies
T cells kill infected cells
Thymus
Small gland just in front of the pericardium (sac around heart). Location of maturation of T cells.
Cell mediated immunity
Cell-mediated immunity is an immune response that does not rely on the production of antibodies.
Think T cells - made in bone marrow - mature in thymus - cell mediated immunity.
Lymph nodes
Provide a place for immune cells to communicate and mount an attack. Filter lymph.
Gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)
Immune tissue found in close proximity to the digestive system (including the mouth), as this these are sites of potential invasion by pathogens.
Include tonsils, adenoids (in the head), Peyer’s patches in the small intestine, lymphoid aggregates in the appendix.
Leukocytes
White blood cells. Arise from hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. Separated by granulocytes and agranulocytes.
Types include: neutrophil, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes- macrophages, dendritic cells, lymphocytes - B cell, T cell, natural killer cell
Granulocytes: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
Agranulocytes: T cell, B cell, monocyte (which turn into macrophages when they get to tissues)
Granulocytes and the four types
Contain granules in their cell membrane that exocytose that contain toxic enzymes and chemicals that are effective against bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens.
Eosinophils (come from eosinophil progenitor)
Neutrophils (come from neutrophil progenitor)
Basophils and Mast cells (come from the same progenitor - the basophil progenitor)
Also Megakaryocytes (which make platelets) as they have some granules.
All arise from myeloid (bone marrow) stem cells, which arise from hematopoietic stem cells.
Leukocytes v lymphocytes
All lymphocytes are leukocytes but all leukocytes are not lymphocytes.
It goes leukocyte then lymphocyte.
Leuko meaning
White
Agranulocytes
A type of luekocyte. There are only two types: lymphocytes and monocytes.
Lymphocytes produce antibodies, monocytes phagocytose pathogens.
Monocytes
A type of granular lymphocyte that phagocytize pathogens. They become macrophages in tissues. Part of the INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Three example of macrophages in text
Langerhan (skin)
Microglia (CNS)
Osteoclast (bone)
These are all leukocytes, agranulocytes, monocytes.
Non specific immune response
Also known as innate immunity. Cells can carry out their functions without learning.
Specific immune response
Also known as the adaptive immune response. Immune cells that learn to recognize and respond to particular antigens.
Split into humoral and cell mediated immunity.
Humoral and cell mediated immunity is a type of what immunity?
Specific immune response, or adaptive immunity.
Remember: specific or adaptive immunity requires cells to learn from specific pathogens.
Humoral- B cells
Cell mediated - T cells
Notes on the structure of the immune system (8.1)
Notes regarding the innate immune system 8.2
The innate immune system
Non specific first line of defense against pathogens. Consist of non-cellular non-specific defenses (skin, the respiratory system, oral cavity), the gastrointestinal tract, complement, interferons, macrophages, natural killer cells, granulocytes.
Non-cellular non-specific defenses
Think of this is the first line of defense. Our skin (integument), sweat also has antimicrobial properties. The respiratory system also has mechanisms to prevent pathogens from entering the body such as mucus membranes lined with cilia, the eyes and the oral cavity.
Include interferons, complement, GI tract, skin.
Defensins
Defensins are members of a large family of cationic antimicrobial peptides that form an essential element of INNATE immunity.
Defensins are Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides (CAP), a broad spectrum antimicrobial defense of the innate immune system.
Important to remember that these are antibacterial enzymes and can be found all over the body: skin, gut, lungs, kidneys.
A part of the non-cellular nonspecific defenses.
Lysozyme
Nonspecific enzyme important to the innate immune system. Effective in protecting against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
The gastrointestinal tract, regarding immunity
Plays a role in non-specific immunity. The stomach secretes acid which can eliminate most pathogens. Also colonized by bacteria that provide competition for potential invaders.
A part of the non-cellular nonspecific defenses.
Interesting: many antibiotics reduce the population of gut flora, providing an opportunity for the growth of pathogens resistant to that antibiotic.
Breast milk, regarding the immune system and newborns
The GI tract of newborn baby is particularly susceptible to infection because the newborns immune system is underdeveloped and the GI tract is not colonized. Breastmilk contains a family of antibodies that are particularly effective on mucosal surfaces and help to defend newborn babies against gastrointestinal infections.
The complement system
Broken down into the classical pathway and the alternative pathway.
The complement system consist of a number of proteins in the blood that act as a non-specific defense against bacteria. Complement proteins punch holes in the cell walls of bacteria, making them osmotically unstable. Despite the association with antibodies, complement is considered a non-specific defense because it cannot be modified to target a specific organism over others.
A part of the non-cellular nonspecific defenses.
Classical pathway of the complement system
Requires the binding of an antibody to a pathogen, activated by antigen – antibody complexes.
Note that even though the classical pathway of the complement system requires antibodies, it is still considered a part of the non specific innate immune system and can be activated by natural antibodies like natural IgM, which are present in the body even without prior exposure to a specific pathogen, allowing for an immediate response against certain invaders; essentially bridging the gap between innate and adaptive immunity.
A part of the non-cellular nonspecific defenses.
Alternative pathway of the complement system
Does not require antibodies. Mark pathogens for destruction, process called opsonization.
A part of the non-cellular nonspecific defenses.
Interferons
Proteins that prevent viral replication and dispersion, produced by cells that have been infected with viruses. Interferons cause nearby cells to decrease production of both viral and cellular proteins.
A part of the non-cellular nonspecific defenses.
Cells of the innate immune system
The cells of the innate immune system are nonspecific and form the first line of defense against pathogens.
Macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and mast cells.
B and T cells are NOT a part of the innate immune system.
Macrophages
Macrophages are a type of a granulocyte and reside within the tissues. Derived from monocytes. Macrophages become activated when a bacterial invader enters the tissue. They will do three things:
1: phagocytize the invader
2: Digest the invader using enzymes
3: presents little pieces of the invader to other cells using major histocompatibility complex (MHC).
Examples include:
Langerhan cells in the skin
Microglia in the central nervous system
Osteoclasts in the bone
Resident population regarding macrophages
Macrophages can set up resident populations within a tissue becoming a permanent, rather than transient, cell group and a tissue.
Glial, Langerhans, osteoclast
Major histocompatibility complex MHC
Bind to pathogenic peptide (also called an antigen) and carries it to the surface, where it can be recognized by cells of the adaptive immune system, most notably T cells. There are MHC class one and MHC class two molecules.