Immunology Flashcards
What is a major source of pathogen in the GI tract?
Mucosal tissue
What does GALT stand for?
Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue
What are the Immune structures of the GI tract?
Epithelial and mucus barrier
DCs (dendritic) and M cells
Innate cells and lymphocytes in the lamina propria
Organised. ALT Peyer’s patches
IgA secreting plasma cells
What is the purpose of Epithelial cells in the GI tract?
Form tight junctions to prevent entry into the lamina propria
Express PRRS (I.e. TLR), particularly on the basolateral surface
What is the purpose of Globet cells in the GI tract?
Produce highly glycosylated protein called muffins which generate the mucus barrier , preventing pathogen access to the epithelium.
Can be unregulated and modified by cytokine and bacterial infection
What is the purpose of Paneth cells?
Found at the base of the crypts and produce anti-microbial peptides.
In the small intestine, alpha-defending are produced as inactive precursors, cleaved by trypsin (also produced by Paneth cells).
Produce REGIII proteins that block bacterial colonisation, and can be bactericidal
What is the purpose of Microfold cells (M cells)?
Allow sampling of antigens from the lumen
What are the innate immune cells of the GI tract?
macrophages
What in the function of macrophages in the GI tract?
Highly phagocytic
Kill microbes
Secrete anti- inflammatory cytokines I.e. IL-10.
Do not produce inflammatory cytokines
Support regulatory T-cells in the GI tract
What are the adaptive immune cells of the GI tract?
Lymphocytes
Where are lymphocytes in the GI tract found.
Through the GI tract
In the lamina propria
As intraepithelial lymphocytes
What kind of function do adaptive cells perform?
Effector functions
What are the sites of immune activation and draining of lymph node?
Peyer’s patches
Isolated lymphoid follicles
What type of cell are Dendritic cells (DC)?
Antigen presenting cells (ADCs))
What is the function of antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the GI tract?
Sample antigens for presentation to T cells in GALT and mesenteric lymph
Some DCs extend dendritic processes between intestinal epithelial cells into the lumen.
True or false?
True
Wha is the function of Dendritic cells (DC) present in the lamina propria?
Sample anti gents that are derived from luminal contents and have gotten through the epithelial barrier
What does the epithelial layer of Oeyer’s patch contain?
Ordinary epithelial cells
M (microfold) cells
What is the function of M cells?
These cells are involved in continuous antigen sampling from the lumen, and deliver them via endocytosis to dendritic cells which then present to T cells.
Typical intestinal cells have villi while M cells have?
Irregular ruffled surfaces
Why ateM cells not protected as other epithelial cells?
M cells do not produce digestive enzymes or mucus and so are not protected from pathogens
Why a have some microbes have evolved to take advantage of M cells as a route of invasion through the mucosal barrier.
Because M cells do not produce digestive enzymes or mucus
Where are lymphocytes typically activated?
Secondary lymphoid organs are where lymphocytes interact with antigen and become activated.
What are encapsulated lymphoid tissue?
Lymph nodes- antigen from the tissues
Spleen- antigen from blood
What are the non-encapsulated lymphoid tissue?
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues(MALT) - antigen from mucosa
MALT represents the largest immune surface area and largest number of immune cells
True or false?
True
What is a distinctive feature of lymphocytes?
Recirculation between the blood, lymphoid organs and tissues
What is recirculation in lymphocytes?
Allows for low-frequency antigen-specific lymphocytes to sample antigens captured within the body
What controls cell migration ?
Specialised lymphocyte surface receptors inning to complementary receptors on the vessel walls of the tissue they enter
How do Dendritic cells with pathogen enter the lymph node?
Through lymphatic vessels.
What happens during circulation of lymphocytes?
DCs bearing antigen enter the lymph nodes through lymphatic vessels.
Naïve lymphocytes leave the blood and enter lymph nodes across the high endothelial venules (HEVs).
If the lymphocytes are activated, they return to the circulation via efferent lymphatics.
Effector cells preferentially leave the blood and enter peripheral tissues through venules at sites of inflammation.
Where in the Lymph node are T cells found?
Paracortex
Where are B cells found in the lymph node?
Found in the follicles within the cortex
Some follicles (secondary follicles) contain central areas called germinal centres.
Germinal centres (GC) develop in response to antigenic stimulation and are sites of B cell proliferation, somatic hypermutation and selection (more on this later), and class switch recombination.
What are Germinal Centres (GC)?
Some follicles (secondary follicles) contain central areas called germinal centres. Germinal centres (GC) develop in response to antigenic stimulation and are sites of B cell proliferation, somatic hypermutation and selection (more on this later), and class switch recombination.
What is the site of B cell proliferation?
Germinal centres (GC)
What are the 2 stages of circulation. of lymphocytes?
- Recruitment to lymph node
2. Homing back to tissue
What is the Recruitment to lymph node?
Naïve T cell migrate into the lymph node involves the adhesion molecules L-selectin and LFA-1 and the chemokine receptor CCR7.
What does homing back to tissue involve?
Activated T cells change their expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors. This promotes their recruitment back to the sites of infection.