Immune System Flashcards
What are antibodies made of proteins?
proteins
How many subunits do antibodies have?
4 subunits
2 heavy chains and 2 light chains
What type of bonds do antibodies have?
disulfide bonds
hypervariable site of an antigen
1:1 specificity of antibody to antigen
large genetic diversity in hypervariable site
epitope
site where an antigen is recognized by an antibody
difference between leukocytes versus lymphocytes
leukocytes: general name for all white blood cells
lymphocytes: type of leukocytes. T-cells, B-cells, NKs
Are leukocytes nucleated?
yes
Neutrophils
type of leukocytes that quickly track down pathogens/bacteria and phagocytze them
NK cells
destroy damaged / infected body cells
straddle the innate and adaptive immune system because they destroy cells targeted by the adapative system
Types of monocytes
macrophages and dendridic cells
macrophages
phagocytosis of general extracellular debris
dendriditic cells
involved in the allergic reaction pathway
basophils
inflammatory cells that release histamine as part of allergic response
eosinophils
target parasitic infections
hematopoiesis
production of red and white blood cells in bone marrow
what happens when diseases attack the bone marrow?
results in an underesponsive immune response
patient is suspectible to disease
example of diseases that attack the bone marrow
leukemia
how to treat leukemia and HIV?
bone marrow transplant
Spleen and the immune system
spleen’s white pulp is important for B-cell activation
Thymus
small organ in the chest where T-cells are educated and matured
lymph
colorless, lipid rich fluid that flows through lymphatic system
Does lymphatic system transport carbohydrates or lipids?
lipids
lymph is lipid rich
What do lymph nodes contain?
high concentrations of T and B cells
granulocytes
Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils
involved in the innate immune response
Main functions of the lymphatic system
1) Maintain fluid balance
2) collect and return interstitial fluid to circultation
3) lipid and cell transport
4) producing lymphocytes
autoimmunity
action of immune system directed towards healthy host tissues
too reactive immune system
Examples of autoimmune diseases
allergies and rheumatoid arthertis
How does the mouth first protect against foreign bodies?
saliva contains lysozyme that breaks down bacterial cell wall
How do neutrophils work?
they are part of the innate immune system
follow chemotaxic signals to site of infection and then engulf foreign bodies
complement system
proteins tag cells for destruction as part of the innate immune system
inflammation
vasodilation at site of infection
increases heat, swelling, pain, redness
NSAID
antiflammatory drugs
cytokines
small proteins that are involved in immune system signaling
interferons
example of cytokines that are released in viral attacks
Where do T-cells mature?
the thymus
Thymic cortex
removes cells that do not react appropriately to pathogens
removes underreactive T-cells
Thymic medulla
removes T-cells that overreact to pathogens
Cell mediate response
MHCs and T-cells
Humoral response
B-cells, plasma cells, and antibodies
Where are MHC1 receptors found?
presented on all cells
Which type of T-cells recognize MHC1 antigens?
CD8 killer T-cells
cytotoxic T-cells
Which type of T-cells recognize MHC2 antigens?
CD4 helper T-cells
What type of receptor would viral antigens present on?
MHC1 receptors
virsus’s dna is in the host cell
normal host cell presents information on MHC1 receptor
What type of receptor would bacteria antigens present on?
MHC2 receptors
macrophages and dendritic cells would have engulfed the bacteria and destroyed it, then presented the bacteria’s antigen
Where are MHC2 receptors found?
macrophages and dendritic cells
after these cells engulf and destroy bacteria, they present the pathogen’s antigens on the MHC2 receptors
What happens when CD4 T-cells recognize antigens?
helper T-cells secrete cytokines
cytokines recruit innate immune system cells
What type of cells can become memory cells?
Killer T-cells, helper T-cells, B-cells
plasma cells
part of the humoral response
make and secrete large amount of antibodies
passive immunity
antibodies produced by one organism and transferred to another
mother passes antibodies to offspring
suppressor T-cells
regulate B and T-cells to decrease anti-antigen activity
active immunity
antibodies are produced during immune response
immunoglobin
a type of antibody
abbreviated Ig
Which type of leukocyte primarily distinguishes between self and non-self? How?
T-cells by recognizing MHC receptors
What type of cells will normally present an unknown antigen on MHC1 receptors?
cells infected with a virus
cancerous cells
peristalsis
the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine
how does peristalsis contribute to the immune system?
pathogens can’t latch onto the intestines and start a colony there
magophages versus phagocytes
macrophages are a specific form of phagocytes
opsonization
when complement proteins tag pathogens for destruction
cytokine storm
positive feedback loop where too many cytokines triggers the immune response which makes more cytokines
results in over active immune system
What happens to activated B-cells?
they either become plasma cells and secrete large amount of antibodies
or they become memory B-cells
autoimmune diseases versus allergies
both are over reactive immune systems
allergies over react to harmless foreign cells
autoimmune diseases over react to self cells
