Immunity Flashcards
Immunity
body’s specific protective response to a foreign agent or organism
Immune system function (2)
- Body’s defense mechanism (Physical injury & Infection)
2.Maintains homeostasis (Equilibrium of internal environment &
surveillance)
list factors that affect the immune system (5)
- genetics (some patients are born w antibodies missing)
- general physical condition (Comorbidities, risk for infection)
- Medications (stim / suppress)
- Dietary patterns (lack of nutrients for healthy cells)
- Stress
disorders of the immune system can result from… (6)
- genetics
- acquired
- excess or deficiencies of immunocompetent cells
- alteration in function of cells
- immunologic attack on self-antigens
- inappropriate / exaggerated responses
list a few example disorders of the immune system (3)
- autoimmune diseases
- hypersensitivity (allergic reaction)
- infections
the bone marrow produces ____ & contains 2 types of ____ called ____ & _____
WBCs, lymphocytes, B cells & T cells
B cells vs. T cells
B cells: humoral immunity; antibody production
T cells: cellular immunity; several types
lymphoid tissue contains the _____ & ______
spleen & lymph nodes
spleen
- function
- contains high concentration of ____
- filters out old & injured RBCs
- high concentration of lymphocytes
lymph nodes
- location
- function
- all over the body, connected by lymph channels & capillaries
- remove foreign material before it enters the blood stream
- center for immune cell proliferation
natural (innate) vs acquired (adaptive) immunity
natural (innate):
- nonspecific
- present at birth
- *defense agonist & resistance to infection
- inflammatory response
- physical / chemical barriers (skin, gastric acid in stomach, MHC)
- immune regulation
Acquired (adaptive):
- specific
- after birth
- “learned” through exposure or vaccinations (contracted disease, vaccinations)
list & describe the two types of acquired / adaptive immunity
active: defense’s developed by person’s own body (lasts long time); patient actively had illness & body creates own antibodies
passive: temporary loan from source outside of body (Antibody infusions)
list & briefly describe the three types of defense
- phagocytic immune response: PAC MAN gobbles invaders!! (WBCs ingest & destroy foreign particles)
- Humoral or antibody immune response (B cells respond w antibodies; memory cells!)
- Cellular immune response (T cells attack foreign particles)
describe phagocytic immune response (3)
- first line
- WBCs ingest & destroy foreign particles
- macrophages & -phils!
describe Humoral immunity (B cells)
- recognition of antigen
- immunoglobulins (built in antibodies)
- production of antibodies
- circulates in peripheral blood
- antigen-antibody binding
list example responses of humoral immunity (4)
- anaphylaxis
- allergic hay fever & asthma
- immune complex disease
- bacterial & some viral infections
list the 5 humoral immunity antibodies & their percentages
IgG (75%), IgA (15%), IgM (10%), IgE (<1%), & IgD (<1%)
Describe IgG
*most prevalent!!
- blood & tissue infections
- activates complement system (calls immune system to fight the problem)
- enhances phagocytosis
- crosses the placenta
- often seen in immune deficiency
describe IgA
- where is it found?
- what does it prevent?
- found in breast milk, saliva, tears, colostrum, & bronchial / intestinal secretions
- prevents adherence of microorganisms to mucosal epithelium
describe IgM
- where is it mostly found?
- when is it first produced?
- mostly in intravascular systems
- first produced in response to bacterial or viral infections
- blood group compatibility
describe IgE
- who is it often found in?
- how does it work?
- found in people w atopic allergies / infected w parasitic worms
- antigen triggers release of histamine & initiates the cascade
describe IgD
- what does it activate & signal?
Possibly activates basophils & mast cells, signals B cells to be activated
describe cell-mediated immunity (T cells)
- cells mature in the ____
- does NOT produce ____
- major role?
- mature in thymus
- circulates in peripheral blood
- does NOT produce antibodies
- major role: surveillance
list & briefly describe examples of responses of cell-mediated immunity (4)
- transplant rejection
- delayed hypersensitivity (TB reaction) - EX: type 4 allergic reaction when patients get exposed & have a delayed reaction (poison ivy)
- Graft versus host disease - foreign object placed in body & body tries to attack it
- tumor surveillance - recognition or destruction
list the effector T cells (3)
- Helper T cells (CD4)
- Cytotoxic T cells (CD8)
- Natural Killer cells
Helper T cells (CD4)
- describe roles
- Facilitate action of other types of T & B cells (Sends out signals!!)
- Stimulate immune system
- Releases cytokines (chemicals that call for help)
Cytotoxic T cells (CD8)
- describe roles
- Directly attack antigen & destroy it
- Causes lysis
- Releases cytokines
natural killer cells
- describe roles
- Destroy infected & stressed cells
- Secrete macrophage cytokine
cytokines
- role
- what are they produced by?
- list the 4 functions
- mediate interactions between cells
- produced by lymphocytes (signals for WBCs)
- 4 functions: enhancement of phagocyte activity, regulate lymphocyte production & function, inflammatory response, systemic effects (fever, bone marrow stimulation)
list the 5 types of cytokines
- interleukins
- colony-stimulating factors
- interferons
- tumor necrosis factor - TNF
- monoclonal antibodies (MABs)
describe interleukins
- function
active inflammation, induces fever, activates T, B, & NK cells
describe colony-stimulating factors
Cytokines that regulate production, differentiation, survival, & activation of hematopoietic cells
describe interferons & when they are active
- Antiviral & antitumor properties
- Active when body gets infected w a virus or tumor!
describe tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
- what does it induce?
- growth factor for ____
- necrotizes ____
- Induces endotoxic shock
- Growth factor for fibroblasts
- Necrotizes tumor cells
monoclonal antibodies - MABs
- describe
- what do they stimulate?
Made in lab to stimulate immune system
which gender has an increased risk for immune disorders?
women
an immune system is considered ____ if a patient has a lot of allergies
overactive
describe psychoneuroimmunologic factors
guided imagery used esp in cancer patients (helps immune system to heal)
list treatments that alter immune response (4)
- surgery
- radiation
- drug therapy (chemotherapy, immunosuppression - transplants, anti-inflammatory)
- immunotherapy - biologic response modifiers (growth factors, interleukins, interferons)
