Immune System Flashcards
The part of our immune system that is always active against infection but lacks the ability to target specific invaders is known as what?
Innate immunity//nonspecific immunity
*Adaptive/specific immunity = opposite (slow but causes immunological memory)
Leukocytes are produced where and through which process ?
In bone marrow; hematopoiesis
What is the location of B cell activation & blood storage ?
Spleen
What is the difference between humoral immunity & cell-mediated immunity ?
HI: driven by B-cells & antibodies
CMI: driven by T-cells
On the skin, there are antibacterial enzymes known as ?
Defensins
A # of proteins in the blood that act as a nonspecific defense against bacteria is known as ?
Complement system
*Can undergo classical (antibody based) or alternative (non-antibody) pathway
Cells that have been infected w/ viruses produce what type of proteins ?
Interferons (prevent viral replication & dispersion)
What does an activated macrophage do ?
- Phagocytizes invader through endocytosis
- Digests invader via enzymes
- Presents little pieces of invader (peptides) to other cells via MHC
- Release cytokines: chemical substances that stimulate inflammation & recruit additional immune cells to the area
All ______ cells in the body express MHC I molecules
Nucleated
Which type of cells are able to detect a downregulation in MHC & induce apoptosis in those infected cells ?
Natural killer cells
When a pathogen is marked by an antibody from a B cell, it has been …?
Opsonized
What are the different granulocytes & what are their functions in the innate immune system ?
Neutrophils: phagocytic cells
Eosinophils: inflammation mediator (releases histamine)
Basophils: allergic responses (release histamine)
*Mast cells: mimic basophils
What happens when an antigen binds to antibodies on the surface of mast cell?
Degranulation = exocytosis of granules—–> release of histamines to induce inflammatory response
Where are naive B cells stored ?
Lymph nodes (until antigen exposure)
When B cells are exposed to an antigen, what type of daughter cells do they form ?
Plasma cells: produce large amounts of antibodies
Memory B cells: stored in lymph node until re-exposure of antigen
