Immune System Flashcards
External Assaults
Microorganisms, protozoans, bacteria, and viruses
Internal Assaults
Abnormal cells that reproduce and form tumors that can become cancerous and spread
Self Markers
Non-Self Markers
Self Markers
Molecules on the surface of cells that will be unique to each individual
Identify cell as “self” to the immune system
Non-Self Markers
Molecules that are on the surface of foreign or abnormal cells
Self Tolerance
Ability of immune system to attack abnormal/foreign cells and spare the normal cells
Innate Immunity
Provide general nonspecific defense against anything that is not identified as self
Will be built in at birth
Adaptive Immunity
acts as a specific defense against specific threatening agents.
Primary Cells for Innate Immunity
Epithelial barrier cells, phagocytes (neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells) and natural killer cells
Chemicals used in innate immunity: complement and interferon etc.
Primary Cells for Adaptive Immunity
Lymphocytes (T and B cells)
Cytokines
Any of several kinds of chemicals that are released by the cells in order to promote innate and adaptive immune responses
Ex. Interleukin, interferon, leukotriene
Cells in regulatory role in immunity
complement, other enzymes, histamine
Innate Immunity-First Line of Defence
Mechanical and Chemical Barriers
The internal environment of the body is protected by a barrier composed of the skin and mucous membrane
The skin and mucous membrane will provide additional immune mechanisms: sebum, mucus, enzymes, and hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Innate Immunity-Second Line of Defence
Inflammation and fever
Inflammation Mediators
histamine, kinins, prostaglandins, and related compounds.
Chemotactic Factors
substances that attract white blood cells to the area of inflammation in a process called chemotaxis.
Characteristic of Inflammation
Heat, redness, pain, swelling
Systemic Inflammation
Body wide inflammatory response
Pyrogen
Pyrogens are released from damaged tissues (endogenous) or introduced into the body (exogenous) to promote prostaglandin (PG) production
PG will reset the hypothalamic “thermostat” to a higher temperature
Aspirin and other cyclooxygenase inhibitors will interfere with PG production
Fever
Fever is believed to increase immune function and inhibit pathogens
Fever is common in systemic inflammation
Inflammation Response
Tissue damage cause by bacteria will trigger a series of events that produces an inflammation response and promotes phagocytosis at the injury site
These responses tend to either inhibit or destroy bacteria in order to bring the tissue back into a healthy state
Similar reactions will occur in the presence of other abnormal or injurious particles or conditions
