Immuno Flashcards
Lymph node structure
Where are... B-cells? T-cells? Lymphos/plasma cells? Macs/retics?
fxn: nonspecific filtration by macs, lympho storage
follicle - B-cells! primary (outer) = dense/dormant. secondary (inner) = germinal centers, active
medulla - medullary cords (lymphos + plasma cells), sinuses (reticular cells, macs)
paracortex - houses T cells, T/B cells enter from blood, site of engorgement during immune response
Spleen sinusoids
Where are…
T cells?
B cells?
APCs?
Red pulp = mechanical filtration of RBCs by fenestrated BM and macs, led to trabeculae
White pulp =
- periarteriolar lymphatic sheath (PALS): T cells
- follicles: B cells
Marginal zone = APCs capture blood-borne antigens for recognition by lymphocytes
Post-splenectomy findings
Howell-Jolly bodies (nuclear remnants in an RBC)
Target cells
Thrombocytosis
Thymus structure
Where are…
immature T cells?
mature T cells?
Where do positive and negative selection occur?
T-cell differentiation and maturation
derived from Third pharyngeal pouch
Cortex = immature T cells (site of positive selection: only T cells expressing TCRs that bind self-MHC survive)
Medulla = pale, mature T cells (site of negative selection: T cells with TCRs for high-affinity self-antigen binding are apoptosed)
innate vs. adaptive immunity
innate - secreted proteins: lysozyme/complement/CRP, TLRs recognize PAMPs (LPS, flagellin, ssRNA)
adaptive - variation through VDJ recomb, based on Igs
MHC I
- MHC I: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, all nucleated cells
- present viral/cytosolic proteins to CD8 cells
- loading happens in RER
- assoc with B-microglobulin
MHC II
- MHC II: HLA-DR, HLA-DP, HLA-DQ,
- binds CD4,
- expressed on APCs only,
- loading happens in acidified endosome with invariant chain
HLA subtypes and disease
A3 - hemochromatosis
B27 - PAIR: psoriatic arthritis, ank spondy, IBS, reactive arthritis
DQ2/DQ8 - celiac disease
DR2 - multiple sclerosis, hay fever, SLE, Goodpasture
DR3 - DM Type I, SLE, Graves, Hashimoto
DR4 - DM Type I, Rheum (4 walls in a room)
DR5 - pernicious anemia
NK cells function, cytokines, signals for activation
Apoptosis induction (using perforin and granzymes) Enhanced by IL-2, IL-12, IFN-a, IFN-B 2 signals: non-specific activation signal, absence of class I MHC
Helper T cells (CD4+)
Th1 (phagocytosis/cell-mediated) vs. Th2 (antibody response)
Give activating and inhibiting cytokines
Th1 = secretes IFN-y, macs/cytotoxic T, activated by IFN-y and IL-12 (from macs), inhibited by IL-4/10 (from Th2)
Th2 = secretes IL-4/5/10/13, activate B cells and recruit eosinophils, activated by IL-4, inhibited by IFN-y (from Th1)
Cytotoxic T cells function
Release cytotoxic granules containing preformed proteins (perforin, granzyme) to induce apoptosis
Regulatory T cells
Maintain specific immune tolerance by suppressing CD4/CD8 T cells
Look for: CD3/4/25, FoxP3
Produce IL-10, TGF-B
Naive T-cell activation
- DC samples/processes antigen
- DC migrates to draining lymph node
- MHC II/I presents foreign antigen to CD4/8
- Costimulatory signal is given by interaction of B7 and CD28 (if no second signal, then anergy)
- Th cell activates and produces cytokines. Tc cell activates and destroys
B-cell activation
- Th cell activation
- B-cell receptor mediated endocytosis, foreign antigen is presented to helper T
- CD40 receptor on B cell binds CD40L on helper T cell
- Helper T secretes cytokines to stimulate Ig class switching of B cell (IL-4, IL-5)
Antibody structure, function, diversity (3 mechs)
Light and heavy chains (light = Fab only, heavy = both),
Fc binds complement (one arm, Constant, Carboxy terminal, Complement, Carbo side chains)
Fab binds antigen (two arms)
Diversity: VJ/VDJ recomb, somatic hypermutation, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (DNA nuc addition)
IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE
IgG - fixes complement, crosses placenta
IgA - prevents microbe attachment to mucous membranes, does not fix complement, produced in GI tract to protect against GI infxns, released in secretions as a dimer (notably breast milk)
IgM - immediate response to antigen, serves as antigen receptor to B cells, pentamer form allows avid binding to antigen
IgE - binds mast cells/basophils, cross-links when exposed to allergen, mediates Type I hypersensi rxn, mediates worm resistance through Eos
Acute phase reactants (produce in liver in response to inflammation, induced by IL-6)
Upregulated: CRP (fixes complement), ferritin (sequesters iron), fibrinogen (coagulation factor, correlates with ESR), hepcidin (prevents release of iron bound to ferritin, leads to AOCD)
Downregulated: albumin (reduction conserves amino acids for acute phase proteins), transferrin (sequester iron)
Complement pathways
Classic - IgG, IgM mediated (GM makes classic cars), C1
Alternative - microbe surface molecules, C3
Lectin - mannose or other sugars on microbe surface, C1-like complex
Complement proteins (3b, 3a/4a/5a, 5b-9, DAF)
C3b - opsonization, C3b binds bacteria (also helps clear immune complexes)
C3a/4a/5a - anaphylaxis (5a also does neut chemotaxis)
C5b-9 - cytolysis by MAC
Inhibitors: DAF = CD55, combines with C1 esterase inhibitor to help prevent complement activation on self cells
Complement disorders
C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency (results in longer C1 half life) - hereditary angioedema, ACEis are contraindicated
C3 deficiency - increases severe, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, increased Type III hypersensitvity rxns (lack of immune complex clearance)
C5-C9 deficiencies - increased Neisseria infections
DAF deficiency - complement-mediated destruction of RBCs (hemolysis). PNH (dz of decreased GPI-anchored proteins) leads to DAF (GPI-anchored protein) deficiency