Immune System and Inflammation

Question 1

Key function of immune system

Answer 1

Body’s defence system

Question 2

Innate immunity

Answer 2

Mediates the initial protection against infections
First line of defense
Deployed very quickly

Question 3

Adaptive immunity

Answer 3

Mediates the later resonse when needed/required
More effective than innate
Specificity and memory
Develops more slowly (days to weeks)

Question 4

4 key players in the INNATE immune system

Answer 4

Neutrophils
Natural killer cells
Macrophages
Complement system

Question 5

2 key cell types in ADAPTIVE immune system

Answer 5

T cells

B cells

Question 6

4 cardinal signs of inflammation

Answer 6

Heat
Redness
Pain 
Swelling
(loss of function)

Question 7

3 key principles of inflammation

Answer 7

Vascular reaction (vasodilation and increased permeability)
Cellular response (specific cell recruitment and activation)
Activated by mediators (derived from plasma proteins and cell types, ex: cytokines)

Question 8

5 major steps of the inflammatory response (5R)

Answer 8

1. Recognition of the injurious/toxic agent
2. Recruitment of WBCs
3. Removal of the toxic agent
4. Regulation (control) of the response
5. Resolution/repair

Question 9

3 key complement pathways and what they are initiated by

Answer 9

Classical (Abs binding to antigens)
Alternative (complement proteins deposited on microbial surface)
Lectin (MBL binds to mannose residues on surface glycoproteins of microbes)