Chronic Inflammation

Question 1

causes of chronic inflammation

Answer 1

persistent infection - unresolved acute inflammation becomes chronic

hypersensitivity diseases - excessive and inappropriate activation of immune system in response to antigens that are normally harmless

prolonged exposure to toxic agents

Question 2

morphologic features of chronic inflammation

Answer 2

lots of mononuclear cells: macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells

tissue destruction

attempts at healing via angiogenesis and fibrosis

Question 3

dominant cells in chronic inflammation, functions

Answer 3

lymphocytes and macrophages, which produce inflammatory mediators, and stimulate recruitment and activation of one another to perpetuate chronic inflammation

Question 4

granulomatous inflammation

Answer 4

development of activated macrophages (epithelioid cells), fused macrophages (giant cells), and T-lymphocytes around an offending agent that is difficult to erradicate in order to contain it.

Question 5

diseases associated with granulomatous inflammation

Answer 5

tuberculosis

chron’s disease

sarcoidosis

Leprosy

Cat scratch disease

foreign bodies

Question 6

acute-phase proteins - what are they

Answer 6

plasma proteins made in the liver that are elevated during inflammatory response via stimulation of hepatocytes via cytokines, which bind to cell walls of pathogens, actas opsonins, or assist with roulaeux of RBCs

Question 7

important acute-phase proteins + functions

Answer 7

C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA): bind to microbial cell walls, act as opsonins, fix complement.

Fibrinogen: binds to RBCscausing them to form stacks (rouleaux)

Question 8

fever

Answer 8

caused by cytokines (TNF, IL-1), which stimulate production of prostaglandins in the hypothalamus

Question 9

leukocytosis

Answer 9

elevated WBCs due to cytokines stimulating production of leukocytes from precursors in bone marrow