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Nursing 1st yr > Immune System > Flashcards

Immune System Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two main branches of the immune system?

A

The immune system comprises innate immunity and adaptive immunity.

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2
Q

Differentiate between innate immunity and adaptive immunity.

A

Innate immunity is non-specific and immediate, while adaptive immunity is antigen-specific and involves memory.

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3
Q

Which cells are involved in innate immunity that engulf pathogens?

A

Phagocytes such as neutrophils and macrophages.

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4
Q

What is the primary role of dendritic cells in the immune system?

A

Dendritic cells capture, process, and present antigens to T cells to initiate adaptive immune responses.

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5
Q

Name the major classes of antibodies and their function.

A

IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgD.
IgG: Most abundant, crosses placenta, opsonization, neutralization.
IgM: Pentamer, early response, efficient complement activation.
IgA: Secretory, mucosal immunity, prevents pathogen attachment.
IgE: Allergic reactions, parasitic infections, triggers mast cells.
IgD: Receptor on B cells, unclear functional role.

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6
Q

Which antibody class is most abundant in the bloodstream and tissues?

A

IgG

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7
Q

What is the function of IgA antibodies?

A

IgA protects mucosal surfaces by neutralizing pathogens and toxins.

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8
Q

Describe the structure of an antibody.

A

Antibodies have a Y-shaped structure consisting of two heavy chains and two light chains.

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9
Q

What is the role of helper T cells in the immune response?

A

Helper T cells assist B cells in antibody production and activate cytotoxic T cells.

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10
Q

How do cytotoxic T cells kill their targets?

A

Cytotoxic T cells induce apoptosis in infected or cancerous cells by releasing perforin and granzymes.

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11
Q

Explain the process of opsonization.

A

Opsonization involves antibodies binding to pathogens to facilitate phagocytosis by neutrophils and macrophages, or to block the pathogen from binding to/entering another cell.

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12
Q

What is immunosenescence?

A

Immunosenescence refers to the decline in immune function associated with aging.

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13
Q

How does the thymus contribute to the immune system?

A

The thymus is where T cells mature and differentiate.

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14
Q

Name two types of lymphoid organs involved in immune responses.

A

Lymph nodes and spleen.

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15
Q

What is clonal selection in the context of immune responses?

A

Clonal selection refers to the proliferation of specific B or T cells upon encountering an antigen.

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16
Q

Explain the difference between primary and secondary immune responses.

A

Primary responses are slower and produce IgM initially, while secondary responses are faster and produce more IgG.

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17
Q

Why are infants susceptible to infections in the first few months of life?

A

Infants have immature immune systems and rely on maternal antibodies transferred across the placenta.

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18
Q

How do memory cells contribute to long-lasting immunity?

A

Memory cells facilitate rapid and robust immune responses upon re-exposure to a pathogen.

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19
Q

What is the role of cytokines in immune responses?

A

Cytokines are signaling molecules that regulate the intensity and duration of immune responses.

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20
Q

Define autoimmunity.

A

Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues.

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21
Q

Name a disease caused by autoimmunity affecting the thyroid gland.

A

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

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22
Q

How does inflammation contribute to immune responses?

A

Inflammation recruits immune cells to sites of infection and promotes tissue repair.

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23
Q

What are the functions of regulatory T cells?

A

Regulatory T cells suppress immune responses to prevent autoimmune reactions.

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24
Q

Explain the process of antigen processing and presentation.

A

Antigen-presenting cells digest antigens and display antigenic fragments on their surfaces bound to MHC molecules.

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25
Q

Which cells are responsible for producing antibodies?

A

Plasma cells derived from activated B cells.

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26
Q

Describe the structure and function of IgE antibodies.

A

IgE antibodies are involved in allergic reactions by binding to allergens and triggering mast cell degranulation.

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27
Q

What is the role of natural killer cells in the immune system?

A

Natural killer cells detect and destroy infected or cancerous cells lacking MHC molecules.

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28
Q

How does breastfeeding provide passive immunity to infants?

A

Breast milk contains antibodies (IgA) that protect against gastrointestinal infections.

29
Q

Name two examples of primary lymphoid organs.

A

Thymus and bone marrow.

30
Q

What is the function of the complement system in immunity?

A

The complement system enhances phagocytosis, induces inflammation, and lyses pathogens.

31
Q

What are haptens, and how do they become immunogenic?

A

Haptens are small molecules that become immunogenic when bound to carrier proteins.

32
Q

How does the immune system distinguish between self and non-self antigens?

A

Through recognition of self-markers (like MHC molecules) and detection of foreign antigens that do not match the body’s own molecular patterns.

33
Q

What role do antibodies play in the prevention of bacterial infections?

A

Antibodies can neutralize bacterial toxins and promote phagocytosis of bacteria.

34
Q

Name the primary effector cells of cell-mediated immunity.

A

Cytotoxic T cells.

35
Q

Describe the process of antibody-mediated immunity.

A

Antibodies bind to antigens on pathogens, marking them for destruction by phagocytes or complement proteins.

36
Q

How does aging affect the adaptive immune system?

A

Aging is associated with decreased thymic function and reduced diversity of T cell receptors.

37
Q

What is the role of B cells in adaptive immunity?

A

B cells produce antibodies and develop into memory cells upon encountering specific antigens.

38
Q

Explain the concept of immunological memory.

A

Immunological memory allows for faster and more robust immune responses upon re-exposure to a previously encountered antigen.

39
Q

How does HIV impair the immune system?

A

HIV infects and destroys helper T cells, compromising adaptive immune responses.

40
Q

What is the function of Toll-like receptors in innate immunity?

A

Toll-like receptors detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns and activate immune responses.

41
Q

Describe the process of T cell activation.

A

T cell activation requires recognition of antigen-MHC complexes and co-stimulatory signals from antigen-presenting cells.

42
Q

How do antibodies contribute to immunity against viral infections?

A

Antibodies can neutralize viruses, prevent viral entry into cells, and promote viral clearance.

43
Q

What are the consequences of impaired phagocytic function in innate immunity?

A

Impaired phagocytic function leads to increased susceptibility to bacterial infections.

44
Q

What are the functions of complement proteins in innate immunity?

A

Complement proteins opsonize pathogens, induce inflammation, and lyse microbial cells.

45
Q

How do allergies involve the immune system?

A

Allergies result from hypersensitive immune responses to harmless antigens, triggering inflammatory reactions.

46
Q

Explain the process of antibody diversification in B cells.

A

Antibody diversification occurs through somatic hypermutation and class switching in activated B cells.

47
Q

What is the significance of MHC diversity in immune responses?

A

MHC diversity allows for recognition of a wide range of antigens by T cells, contributing to immune specificity.

48
Q

Describe the process of antigen processing for MHC class I presentation.

A

Antigens are degraded in the cytosol, peptides are transported into the endoplasmic reticulum, where they bind to MHC class I molecules and are presented on the cell surface.

49
Q

Differentiate between the roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in adaptive immunity.

A

CD4+ T cells (helper T cells) assist in activating other immune cells, while CD8+ T cells (cytotoxic T cells) directly kill infected or cancerous cells.

50
Q

What is the function of the thymus in T cell development?

A

The thymus provides a microenvironment for T cell maturation, where T cells undergo positive and negative selection to ensure self-tolerance.

51
Q

Explain the concept of immunological tolerance.

A

Immunological tolerance is the state of unresponsiveness to self-antigens, preventing autoimmune reactions.

52
Q

Describe the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in immune regulation.

A

Tregs suppress excessive immune responses and maintain immune tolerance by inhibiting effector T cells.

53
Q

How does somatic hypermutation contribute to antibody diversity?

A

Somatic hypermutation introduces point mutations in antibody genes during B cell activation, resulting in antibodies with enhanced antigen-binding affinity.

54
Q

Discuss the role of cytokines in coordinating immune responses.

A

Cytokines regulate immune cell proliferation, differentiation, and communication, shaping the intensity and direction of immune responses.

55
Q

What are the functions of memory T cells in adaptive immunity?

A

Memory T cells rapidly respond to re-infection by differentiating into effector T cells, providing enhanced protection against previously encountered pathogens.

56
Q

Explain the process of class switching in antibody production.

A

Class switching involves B cells changing the constant region of their antibodies from IgM or IgD to IgG, IgA, or IgE, altering their effector functions.

57
Q

Describe the structure and function of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in innate immunity.

A

TLRs recognize specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), initiating innate immune responses and cytokine production.

58
Q

How do effector T cells contribute to immune responses?

A

Effector T cells (both CD4+ and CD8+) directly combat infections or tumors through cytokine secretion or cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

59
Q

Discuss the role of B cell co-receptors in antibody production.

A

B cell co-receptors, such as CD19 and CD21, enhance B cell activation and antibody production upon antigen recognition.

60
Q

How does the complement system contribute to both innate and adaptive immunity?

A

Complement proteins opsonize pathogens, induce inflammation, and facilitate immune cell lysis, enhancing both innate and adaptive immune responses.

61
Q

Discuss the role of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in initiating adaptive immune responses.

A

APCs (dendritic cells, macrophages, B cells) capture, process, and present antigens to T cells, activating adaptive immune responses.

62
Q

How does aging affect the adaptive immune system, specifically T cell function?

A

Aging is associated with reduced diversity and function of naïve T cells, compromising immune responses to novel antigens.

63
Q

Discuss the mechanisms of immune evasion employed by pathogens.

A

Pathogens evade immune responses by antigenic variation, inhibition of antigen presentation, or suppression of immune cell functions.

64
Q

What is the role of chemokines in immune cell trafficking and inflammation?

A

Chemokines attract immune cells to sites of infection or inflammation, regulating immune cell trafficking and activation.

65
Q

How do superantigens differ from conventional antigens in T cell activation?

A

Superantigens bind outside the peptide-binding groove of MHC molecules, activating large numbers of T cells and causing excessive immune responses.

66
Q

What is the function of memory B cells in long-term immunity?

A

Memory B cells persist after initial infection or vaccination, quickly differentiating into plasma cells upon re-exposure to the same antigen.

67
Q

Discuss the role of memory CD8+ T cells in protective immunity against viral infections.

A

Memory CD8+ T cells provide rapid and effective responses upon re-exposure to viral antigens, clearing infected cells before viral spread.

68
Q

How do lipid mediators (e.g., prostaglandins, leukotrienes) regulate immune responses?

A

Lipid mediators modulate inflammation, vascular permeability, and immune cell activation during innate and adaptive immune responses.

69
Q

Discuss the concept of immune privilege in specific anatomical sites (e.g., eye, brain).

A

Immune privilege refers to restricted immune responses in certain tissues to prevent damage

Nursing 1st yr (21 decks)

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