Final Exam Flashcards
Where do naive lymphocytes in the blood migrate to?
Secondary lymphoid tissues
Where do effector and memory T cells in the blood migrate to?
Site of infection
What are HEVs and what is their function?
High endothelial venules - specialized blood vessels which facilitate extravasation of lymphocytes into the lymph node
What are distinctive characteristics of HEVs (as compared to regular venules)?
Tall endothelial cells
Thick basal lamina
Concentrically arranged reticular fibroblasts making up a perivascular sheath
Increased expression of molecules associated with cell migration into lymphoid tissues
What are the four primary stages of lymphocyte trafficking from blood vessel to tissue, and which molecules facilitate them?
Rolling - Selectins
Activation - Chemokines
Adhesion - Integrins
Diapedesis - Chemokines
What are the three classes of molecules grouped as “adhesion molecules”?
Selectins, chemokines, integrins
What are chemokines and what is their function?
Small soluble (secreted) proteins. Chemoattractants for immune cells
What are selectins?
Cell surface proteins, allow for extravasation of immune cells
What are integrins?
Cell surface proteins, allow immune cells to migrate to specific tissues
What is monocyte-chemoattractant protein 1?
Mucosal homing receptor - Regulates migration and infiltration of monocytes/macrophages
What are the primary lymphoid organs?
Thymus, bone marrow/bursa fabricius, Ileal Peyer’s patch, lymphoglandular complexes
What are the (groupings of) secondary lymphoid organs?
Lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, Peyer’s patches
Which part of the thymus is most densely packed with lymphocytes?
Cortex (outer part)
What is Hassal’s corpuscule?
Structure in the thymic medulla containing a blood vessel with very thick walls preventing antigen from entering the thymus.
What is the bursa fabricius and where is it located?
Primary lymphoid organ (source of B cells AND traps antigen) in birds. Round sac with a connecting duct to the cloaca
What are the two types of Peyer’s patches and what is the difference between them?
Ileal patch - site of lymphocyte (B cell) development
Jejunal patches - secondary lymphoid organ
What is the mammalian equivalent to the bursa fabricius?
Ileal peyer’s patch
Which animals do not have lymph nodes?
Birds
What are the residential cells of lymph nodes?
(Follicular) dendritic cells, follicular T helper cells
Which cells are located in the cortex vs. paracortex of the lymph nodes?
T cells in paracortex
B cells in cortex (follicles)
Where is the germinal center visible in the lymph node?
Round structure near the junction of cortex and paraxortex
Which B cell-related processes occur in the dark zone vs. light zone of the germinal center?
Dark zone - Somatic hypermutation
Light zone - Testing of antibody affinity
What is the primary cell type found in the subcapsular sinus of lymph nodes?
Macrophages
What are the three immune-related structures in tonsils/Peyer’s patches and which cell types are they associated with?
Dome region - macrophages and DCs
Follicles - B cells, follicular DCs/Th cells
Interfollicular region - T cells
What are the specialized cells associated with antigen uptake at mucosal surfaces (tonsils/Peyer’s patches)?
M cells
Which cells are highly prevalent in the marginal zone in the spleen?
APCs
Where are B and T cells located in the spleen?
B cells in follicles
T cells surrounding incoming arterioles
What is the largest immune compartment in the body?
Mucosal surfaces
What is the difference between inducive and effector sites in mucosal immunity?
Inducive sites are lymphoid tissues - where immune response is being induced (site of antigen uptake)
Effector sites are were we find mature lymphocytes that have been exposed to their specific antigen (e.g. lamina propria)
What are the specialized characteristics of M cells which allow them to transfer antigen to lymphocytes/APCs?
Shorter glycocalyx on apical side to create a physical trap for antigens/pathogens
Pockets on basal side where immune cells can access antigen
Other than M cells, what is another system by which immune cells can access antigen across mucosal surfaces?
DCs can extend their dendrites between epithelial cells to “fish” for antigen
In what tissue(s) are M cells located?
Epithelium of small intestine, colon, rectum, tonsils, and adenoids
What are the primary (immune) cell types found in the lamina propria of mucosal tissues?
B cells (mostly IgA, some IgG/IgE) and T helper cells (to provide a suitable microenvironment)
What are the primary (immune) cell types found in the intraepithelial tissue of mucosae?
Cytotoxic T cells
What is the mechanism by which IgA dimers cross mucosal surfaces to enter the epithelium?
Endocytosis/exocytosis by epithelial cells - facilitated by polyimmunoglobulin receptor (pIgR)
In what tissues do oral mucosal vaccines induce an effective immune response?
Small intestine, ascending colon, mammary and salivary glands
In what tissues do rectal mucosal vaccines induce an effective immune response?
Rectum only
In what tissues do nasal/tonsilar mucosal vaccines induce an effective immune response?
Upper airways, regional secretions, genital mucosa
In what tissues do vaginal mucosal vaccines induce an effective immune response?
Genital mucosa only
In what tissues do skin vaccines induce an effective immune response?
Possibly the gut. Ineffective in most mucosal surfaces
How is exclusion immunity induced?
If antigen is detected along with a danger signal either via M cells or DCs across the mucosa, an immune response will be induced and secretory antibodies will be produced
How is oral tolerance induced?
Non-adherent food antigens induce activation of Treg cells and suppression of Th1/Th2/Th17 inflammatory response
What are examples of cytokines produced by Treg cells in the case of oral tolerance of food antigens?
IL-10, TGF-b
What can cause oral tolerance of food antigens to fail?
When there is a large influx of food antigens past the GI mucosa due to increased permeability/damage to the epithelium
In terms of the immune system, what is the difference between commensal and pathogenic bacteria?
Location (if they cross/damage the epithelium, they are treated as pathogenic)
What are the six placental layers (in order) acting as the barrier between maternal and fetal blood? - assume epithelochorial placentation
Maternal endothelium
Endometrial CT
Uerine epithelium
Chorion epithelium
Fetal placental mesenchyme
Fetal endothelium
What are the three types of placentation (as it relates to proximity between maternal and fetal blood)?
Epitheliochorial (most layers)
Endotheliochorial
Hemochorial (fewest layers)
Which species have epitheliochorial placentation type?
Cows, pigs, horses
Which species have endotheliochorial placentation type?
Dogs and cats
Which species have hemochorial placentation type?
Humans and rodents
What is the importance of the thickness of the barrier between maternal and fetal blood?
Determines the extent to which maternal antibodies are able to enter the fetal bloodstream (thus determining the degree of reliance on colostrum for immunity)
Describe epitheliochorial placentation
Maternal side has both uterine epithelium and BV endothelium
No transfer of maternal antibodies
Describe endotheliochorial placentation?
Maternal side only has BV endothelium
Limited transfer of maternal antibodies
Describe hemochorial placentation?
Maternal side has neither uterine epithelium OR BV endothelium
Good transfer of maternal antibodies
Which type of immune response is suppressed during pregnancy?
Th1
What is the avian equivalent of IgG?
IgY
How is antibody transfer achieved in birds?
IgY is concentrated in the egg
IgM and IgA enter the albumin in the oviduct and are swallowed by the chick
From which point in gestation is the fetus able to mount an active immune response?
Second trimester
Which vaccine is routinely administered during fetal development and in which species?
Marek’s disease - chickens
What are the two primary reasons why a neonate is unable to mount an effective immune response against a pathogen?
Immune system is IMMATURE and IMPAIRED
What are the characteristics of the “neonate immune environment”
- Th2 (mother) / Treg (neonate)-biased immune system
- High levels of IL-10/Treg
- High levels of corticosteroids after birth
- Inability to mount effective IFN-g response
- Passively transferred immunity
- Developing mucosal immune system
Which hormone(s) are involved in immune suppression in neonates?
Corticosteroids
Which factor is primarily responsible for driving the maturation of the neonatal immune system?
Intestinal microbiota
What is the difference between passive and active neonatal immunity?
Passive = antibodies transferred from mother to offspring
Active = immune response of neonate to vaccination or infection
What is colostrum?
The first milk - essentially concentrated maternal serum, rich in maternal antibodies
What is the approximate time frame in which immunoglobulins from colostrum can be absorbed into the fetal circulation?
6-24hrs
What is a disadvantage to giving a neonate pre-purchased colostrum?
Colostrum from the mother contains antibodies (IgG) that are specific to the environment in which the mother (and therefore offspring) is living. Pre-purchased colostrum is not “personalized”
What is the contribution of milk to the immune system of offspring?
Contains antibodies from pathogens encountered in the maternal gut, thereby protecting the fetal gut
Other than immunoglobulins and immune cells, what are other crucial protein contents of colostrum?
Lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and lysozyme (nonspecific lysis/effects on growth of pathogens)
Insulin-like growth factor, epidermal growth factor, alpha lactalbumin, TGFb, IL1, CSF, IL6 (stimulates growth, cell division, protein synthesis, etc.)
Which immunoglobulin classes are more common in (non-ruminant) colostrum vs. milk?
Colostrum: IgG
Milk: IgA
How are the immunoglobulins secreted in milk produced?
Plasma cells migrate from the intestine to the mammary tissue via CCL28
Which problem is created by maternal antibodies in the neonate?
Immune interference - they can bind to and neutralize vaccines before the neonate can respond
What do IFNa and IFNb do?
Establish an anti-viral state (resistance to replication, increase ligands for NK receptors, activate NK cells)
What does IFNg do in the context of a Th1 response?
Activates (M1) macrophages, enhances CD8 T cell killing
What antibody class is produced during a Th1 response and what is its primary function?
IgG; primarily for virus neutralization and opsonization, as well as antigen-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by NK cells
Which cells are targeted by HIV?
CD4+ T cells
What causes pigs infected with high-path strains of PRRSV to die?
Cytokine storm
How do bacteria interact with the complement system?
Motifs on bacterial cell surface can activate complement via alternative pathway. C3b can opsonize, C3a and C5a are anaphylatoxins, MAC forms
What are the roles of antibodies during bacterial infection/Th2 response?
Neutralizing toxins/bacterial attachment, opsonization, activating complement (classical)