Immunology Flashcards
What are the 4 main factors that contribute towards inflammation
- Dolor (pain)
- Color (heat)
- Tumor (swelling)
- Rubor (redness)
WHat molecules do Mast cells secrete?
- Histamines (mostly)
- Leukotrienes
- Prostaglandins
Describe how factor 12 is involved in the production of bradykinin?
XII is converted to prekalikiran which is then converted to kalikiren. Kalikiran then converts kininogen into bradykinins
What does PLA2 break down?
Phospholipids into arachadonic acid
What can arachadonic acid be converted into?
- Leukotrienes (from lipooxygenase, LPO)
- Prostaglandins (from COX 1, 2)
What does lipoxygenase (LPO) convert arachadonic acid into?
Leukotrienes
What enzyme converts arachadonic acid into prostaglandins?
COX-1 and 2
What are the preformed granules found inside endothelial cells called?
weibel palade bodies (these are stimulated by local inflammatory cytokines and cause selectins to become active)
How can plasma leak out of the capillaries?
Local inflammatory cytokines bind to endothelial receptors causing them to contract, this creates spaces between the cells creating leaks
What causes nociceptor activation
Fluid pressing on them and bradykinin
What do white blood cells attach to on endothelial cells?
P selectins
What is the process called where WBCs roll along the endothelial cell surface on P selectins?
Margination
What do WBCs attach to during diapedesis?
P-CAMs?
What is positive chemotaxis?
When chemokines hit a specific point on WBCs which cause the WBCs to migrate to where the chemokines were coming from
What can cause the expression of E-selectins?
IL-1 and TNF-alpha, monocytes and neutrophils bind to it on the endothelium
What does IL-8 stimulate?
- Activates cell to create ICAM and VCAM
- Activates integrins on neutrophils - prefectly interacts with VCMA and ICAM on endothelium
- Neutrophil undergoes diapedisis, and then positive chemotaxis
What do IL-1 and TNF-alpha cause the hypothalamus to produce?
PGE2 - initiating fever
What does IL-6 cause the production of?
Acute phase reactant proteins (C-reactive protein)
- Also Il-1 and TNF-a contribute
What does IL-1 and TNF-alpha cause in bone marrow?
Leukocytosis
What is a phagosome?
A vesicicle inside a phagocyte containing the actual bacteria
What do lysosomes contain?
Hydrolytic enzymes which break down the bacteria
What do the hydrolytic enzymes in phagolysosomes do to bacteria?
Break down cell wall and inner cell structures
What are the 3 types of antigen presenting cells?
- B-cells
- Macrophages
- Dendritic cells
What does the neutrophil do with antigens inside the phagolysosome?
- May exocytosis them into the interstitial fluid
- Neutrophil may sacrifice itself with free radicals (oxidative burst)
- May release DNA/chromatin which can bind onto foreign bacteria (NETS)
What condition can
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETS) cause?
SLE
Give an example of an enzyme which may degrade bacteria in a
Neutrophil extracellular trap?
Cathepsin G
What cells contain MHC II?
Antigen Presenting Cells
What chromosome contains MHC-I?
Chromosome 6
What cells contain MHC-1?
All nuceated cells
What are NETS made up of?
Neutrophil chromatin
Through what mechanism can MHC molecules from macrophages be able to produce MHCs of different shapes?
Recombination
What is present on the surface of MHC-II?
Antigen
What do MHC-1 molecules have on them?
A self antigen
What are the 3 types of MHC 1 genes?
A B and C
What are the 3 types of MHC-2 genes?
DP, DQ, DR
Why are MHC genes clinically relevant?
When doing transplants there must be at least 6 MHC matches
What organ produces complement proteins?
Liver
What are the 3 pathways of the complement system?
- Classical
- Alternative
- Lectin
What protein binds to the antibody on the bacteria in the classical pathway?
C1
What does C3 convertase split C3 into? What do they do?
C3a and C3b
- C3a breaks off and acts as a chemotactic agent
- C3b stays
What is the order of complement proteins?
C1, C4, C2, C3b, C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9
What 2 proteins act as chemotactic agents in the complement pathway?
- C3a
- C5a
What do proteases released by the mast cell do to the complement system?
Activate C3a and C5a
What proteins in the complement system break off to create the MAC?
C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9
What shape is the Membrane Attack Complex?
Cylindrical pentameric protein
How does the MAC work?
Attaches to bacterial membrane - causes lysis through the influx of H2O, Na+ etc.
What does C3b act as?
An opsonin (makes phagocytosis of bacteria easier)
What is the receptor on the phagocyte called that interacts with C3b?
C3b receptor
What protein binds directly to the bacterial antigen in the alternative pathway?
C3b
What other protein is involved in the alternative pathway?
Factor B (technically joins C3b to C5b)
What does lectin bind to on the cell surface of bacteria?
Manose (antigen)
What complement protein binds to lectin in the lectin pathway?
C4 (C1 only classical protein not involved)
What are toll-like receptors?
Proteins on cell membrane or vesicles that respond to foreign pathogens (PAMPs) and elicit specific responses
What are interferons?
Signal nearby host cells to alert them of a virus signalling them to make anti-viral peptides, also can trigger NK cells and macrophages to become active and proliferate
What transcription factor can cells secrete when damaged by a virus?
IRF
What does the IRF transcription factor activate?
Interferons (IFN) (alpha, beta and gamma)
WHat are the 3 types of interferons (IFN)?
- Alpha
- Beta
- Gamma
What interferon is not usually secreted by generalised tissue cells?
IFN-gamma (only in certain immune cells)
What do interferons activate?
Protein kinase R (in a cell beside it)
What does protein kinase R do?
- Cleaves viruses and anti-viral peptides prohibiting the virus from entering other cells
What does IFN-gamma activate on other macrophages?
Proliferation (mitosis, and get bigger and MHC 1 and 2 molecules are expressed more)
What are the functions of IFN- alpha and Beta?
- Activation of protein kinase R
- Activation of NK cells
Describe the mechanism of a NK cell?
- NK cell can notice and kill cells with a downregulation of self-antigens (MHC-class Is) (this is usually due to viral infection or cancer)
What type of interferons can platelets produce?
IFN - Beta
What are the 3 mechanisms by which NK cells can notice a cell that needs to be killed?
- Lack of MHC class I molecule
- IgG bound
- Has Mica
What common infections can be treated with interferons?
- HSV
- HPV
- Multiple Sclerosis