Deficiencies and Malfunctions of immune system Flashcards
What are the three main scenarious of Deficiencies or Malfunctions in the Immune System?
- Allergies
- Auto-immune Diseases
- Immunodeficiency
What is an allergen?
An antigen of something harmless (non pathogenic)
What happens when body is exposed to Allergen
Follows B-cell Response
How does an allergic reaction defer to normal pathogenic B-cell response?
- No memory cells formed (only plasma cells)
- Produces IgE antibodies
How many times does a person need to be exposed to an allergen before having a reaction?
2 times
Where do the IgE antibodies go to and what do they create?
IgE antibodies bind to Mast cells, creating a sensitised Mast Cell
How does a sensitised Mast Cell react to antigen exposure?
- IgE antibodies bind to allergen through cross-linking
- Release Histamine to produce an inflammatory response causing symptoms
Refer to Inflammatory Response for effects of Histamine on body
What is an Auto-Immune Disease?
Occurs when immune system cannot identify ‘self’ from ‘non-self’.
What does the immune system do when a person has an Auto-immune disease?
Healthy self-cells are attacked and destroyed by immune system
What is an example of Immunodeiciencies?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) which can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodefficiency Disease/Syndrome)
What does the body become defficient in during Immunodeficiency?
Helper T-cells
How does the body lose its Helper T-cells
The virus (HIV) enters and destroys T-helper cells
What are the effects of losing T-helper cells?
Neither the B-cell Response or the T-cell response can occur. This means no way for 3rd Line of defense of body to work.
How does a person die of AIDS?
Immune response is incapable of mounting immune response. Pathogens such as common cold can kill you now.
