Development of the immune system Flashcards
Why is the immune system in children dampened compared to adults?
- immunosuppressive environment of the womb
= womb was sterile
= baby didnt need active immune system
- at birth baby is exposed to many antigens- having a reaction to all of them, would be harmful to baby
Why was the womb immunosuppressive?
- so maternal immune system doesn’t reject antigens of foetus AND VICE VERSA
When the baby is born why are they vulnerable to pathogens?
- dampened immune system
- not good response to vaccines when born
What is immunoessence in pneumonia?
- common in first few months of life
- common in elderly again
- immune system changes with age
- pneumococcal disease is an opportunistic infection
What are the 2 parts of the immune system?
- non antigen specific
- antigen specific
What is the non- antigen specific immune system made up of?
- barriers = skin/mucosal surfaces
- cellular components = neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages NK cells= PHAGOCYTOSIS
- soluble components = complements (opsonization) and cytokines (cell signalling)
Why do preterm babies have higher risk of infection?
bc thin skin
easy to penetrate barrier
How do monocytes, macrophages etc detect pathogens?
WBC have TLR which detect PAMP on bad guys
What is antigen specific immune system made up of?
B cells
T cells
What are B cells?
- have antibodies on them
- specific for antigen
- millions of B cells with diff antibodies respond to diff antigens
- can produce memory cells
What are the 2 types of T cells?
- CD4+ T helper
- CD8+ cytotoxic cells
What are CD4+ T helper cells?
- dendrites present antigens to these cells through their MHC
- immature T helper cells get activated
- help activate CD8+ T cytotoxic cells
- also help antibody class switching in B cells
- memory T helper cells produced
What are CD8+ cytotoxic cells?
- cells infected by viruses and bacteria present antigens to these
- leads to their activation
- chemicals from T helper cells help mature the cytotoxic T cells which can then attack infected body cells
What is a primary lymphoid organ?
- Thymus= in thorax, T cells develop
- Bone marrow= stem cells giving rise to blood cells (e.g. T and B lymphocytes)
What is a secondary lymphoid organ?
- SPLEEN
= filter blood
= remove old damaged RBC
= remove infec agents- use them to activate lymphocytes - LYMPH NODES
= in subcut tissue - PEYERS PATCHES
= in intestine
= filter out dead cells - LYMPHATIC VESSELS
= collect lymph fluid that has leaked out from blood into tissues
Why do people without a spleen have high infection rate and by what in particular?
- high infection risk by encapsulated bacteria
e. g. pneumococcus and meningococus