Immune System I Flashcards
What do accessory cells do?
They process antigen (ingested and paritally degraded foreign substances) and then present processed antigenic fragments on their membranes that can be recognized by lymphocytes
lymphocytes: what role do they play? how so?
specifically recognize and distinguish different antigenic determinants by virtue of their cell surface antigen-specific receptors
receptors are clonally expressed: each lymphocyte expresses only one binding specificity (basis of clonal selection)
lymphocytes then execute the effector mechanisms that characterize acquired immunity
B lymphocytes: what type of immunity do they confer? How do they become specific? What is the difference btw the two types of B cells?
Humoral immunity (antibody-mediated) they express Ig (immunoglobulin) receptors that confer specificity to a given antigen When they encounter the antigen, they divide into memory B cells and effector (plasma) cells. Plasma cells make Ig (aka antibodies) Memory B cells have longer life span
T lymphocytes: what kind of immunity? What controls specificity?
T cells mature in thymus
responsible for cell-mediated immunity
specificity controlled by antigen receptors on the surface (TCRs). TCRs made of polypeptide chains. N-terminal ends make up the antigen combining site.
T cell responds when it encounters an antigenic determinent o n the surface of the accessory cell presented in association with major histocompatibility complexes.
What distinguishes Th cells from Tc cells?
Th: helper cells. Express CD4.
Tc cells: express CD8.
CD4 interacts with class II MHC determinants; CD8 with class I MHC determinants.
What to stimulated Th cells do?
produce cytokines that are nonantigenically-specific small peptides that stimuate functions of T and B cells and other aspects of physiology
What is the difference between the two kinds of helper t-cells?
Th1 cells produce cytokines hthat facilitate cell-mediated immunity;
Th2 cells produce cytokines that facilitate humoral immunity
What is one risk associated with splenectomy?
increased incidence of bacterial sepsis caused by encapsulated bacteria
What are MALTs? What role do they play?
mucosal associated lymphoid tissues. they trap antigens that have gained entry through the epithelial mucous membrane. Can include loosely organized lymphatic tissue or other structures, like tonsils, appendix, and Peyer’s patches.
DiGeorge syndrome
thymus and parathyroids fail to develop owing to failure in the development of the 3rd and 4th pharyngeal pouches. presents with tetany.
Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia
B cell deficiency. X linked recessive defect associated with low levels of immunoglobulins. Recurrent bacterial infections after 6 mo. Defect in tyrosine kinase
SCID
B and T cell deficiency. frequent viral, bacterail, fungal, and protozoal infections. multiple causes
hyper IgM syndrome
Increased IgM levels with low levels of IgG. X linked. Due to a CD40 ligand mutation and defective isotype switching
chronic granulomatous disease
phagocyte deficiency. defect in phagocytosis of neutrophils due to lack of NADPH oxidase activity. Inc. susceptibility to opportunistic infections like S aureus and Aspergillus
Chediak Higashi disease
defect in phagocytosis from microtubular and lysosomal defects. Recurrent pyogenic infections with staph and strep
Job’s syndrome
neutrofils can’t respond to chemotactic stimuli. Lots of IgE. Recurrent staph absesses
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency I
autosomal recessive
bacterial and fungal infections
impaired wound healing defect in B2 integrins and cell adhesion.
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
B and T cell deficiency. defect in the ability to mount an IgM response to capsular polysaccharides of bacteria. Recurrent pyogenic infections, eczema, and thrombocytopenia
Selective immunoglobulin deficiency
deficiency in a specific class of immunoglobulins, perhaps due to isotype switching selective IgA deficiency is the most common.
ataxia-telangiectasia
B and T cell deficiency with associated IgA deficiency. Presents with cerebellar probs and spider angiomas