Immune Response to Pathogens Flashcards
Give four components of the immediate defence
- Complement
- Antibodies
- Phagocytic cells
- Antimicrobial peptides
How fast does the immediate defence act?
0-4 hours
What pathway of complement opsonises pathogens for phagocytosis?
Alternative mainly
Also maybe lectin
When can the classical pathway be used?
If natural or specific antibody is present
Where is the membrane attack complex used?
Directly destroying Gram-negative bacteria
What genetic defects in complement predispose to immune complex disease?
C1q C1r C1s C2 C4
What genetic defects in complement predispose to recurrent pyogenic infections?
C3
Factor H
Factor I
What genetic defects in complement predispose to Neisseria infections?
C5 C6 C7 C8 Properdin Factor D
How do macrophages and neutrophils recognise pathogens?
Complement, scavenger and other receptors
What infection is associated with leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD)?
- Staphylococcus species
- Enteric gram-negative bacteria
- Fungal infections, esp. C. albicans
What is natural antibody?
IgM
Made without previous exposure to antigens
What produces natural antibody?
B-1 cells
What are defensins?
Major group of human antimicrobial peptides
What do defensins do?
Disrupt cell membranes
What are defensins effective against?
- Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria
- Fungi
- Parasites
- Enveloped viruses
What produces defensins?
Epithelial cells in skin, respiratory and urogenital tracts
Paneth cells in small intestine
Neutrophils
Where are β-defensins produced?
Urogenital tract
Where are α-defensins produced?
Paneth cells in small intestine
How fast does the induced innate response act?
4 hours to 4 days
What is the main component of the induced innate response?
Macrophages
What do macrophages do in the induced innate response?
Activated PRRs signal production of pro-inflammatory cytokines
What are the pro-inflammatory cytokines?
- IL-1
- IL-6
- IL-12
- TNF-α
What are the six functions of TNF-α?
- Induces adhesion molecule expression on vascular endothelium
- Increases vascular permeability
- Triggers platelet activation and blood clotting
- Stimulates dendritic cell activation and migration to lymph nodes
- Stimulates acute phase response
- Primes newly recruited neutrophils