Immune System and Stress Flashcards
What is the first line of defence?
the skin, physical and chemical barriers (tears, sweat)
What is the second line of defence?
nonspecific immune response, phagocytes, natural killer cells, inflammation etc.
What is the third line of defence?
specific immune response, creation of antibodies
What is the pathway of the specific immune response?
step 1: pathogen eaten by macrophage
step 2: macrophage displays portion of pathogen on surface
step 3: helper-t cell recognizes pathogen
step 4: activated helper t cell activates T and B cells
What is the difference between cellular immunity and antibody immunity?
Cell: carried by T cells, infected cells are killed by cytotoxic T cells
Anti: carried by B cells, antibodies produced, antibodies bind to antigens
What is the primary immune response?
first time invader, no immune response for a few days, 10-15 days antibody production
What is the secondary immune response?
rapid response to second invader, antibody production is increased dramatically.
What is active immunity?
actually being exposed to a virus, your body creates its own antibodies, (vaccinations help_
What is passive immunity?
anitbodies are given to a person from the blood of another person
What is an allergy? What are the two types of allergic reactions?
exaggerated response by the immune system.
immediate: occurs in seconds
delayed: takes longer and lasts longer
What do the supressor t cells do?
they get activated once no more pathogens are there, and stop t cell production
How do epinephrine and norepinephrine affect lymphocytes?
immediate exposure: increase lymphocytes
longer exposure: decrease natural killer cells
What effect does cortisol have on the body?
inhibits the productions of all white blood cells
What is the immune response to acute stressors?
redistribution of immune cells, immediate response of cortisol is to strengthen the immune system, no attention payed to B and T cells
What is the immune response to short-term stressors?
decrease in lymphocytes, increase in cytokine production
What is the immune response to chronic stressors?
decrease in TH1 cellular and TH2 humoral immune response, decrease in non-specific immune responses, persistent inflammatory acitivty
How do the prenatal exposures to stress affect immune system?
Males natural killer cells cytotoxicity were low and for women B-cell suspension was low
How does age affect the immune system?
immune system weakens with age,
What did the influenza vaccine case prove?
the younger adults reacted better, but the non stressed group do better than stressed group. Stress affects immune system, age affects immune system, both worsen immune system
What are possible probems related to immune dysfunction?
Cancer, Cold flu, Wound healing, infection
What does stress and cancer have to do with eachother?
stress may not cause cancer, but it affects its progression. It also affects the responses to treatment.
What do beliefs and cancer have in common?
those who have more beliefs are doing better,better support system etc.
How did psychological profiles affect healthy and ill children?
healthier kids were more extroverted and less anxious/depressed. Weaker personalilties have more infections. But dont know if personality affects sickness or if sickness affects personality
What affects the risk of development of a cold?
smoking, exercising, sleeping
