Immunology Flashcards
What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity receptors?
- PRRs bind to PAMPs or DAMPs while TCRs and IGs bind to antigens
- PRRs are encoded in the germline (limited diversity) while TCRs and IGs are a result of somatic recombination (greater diversity)
- We have <100 different types of invariant receptors for innate immunity and 2 types of receptors, each with millions variations, for adaptive immunity
- Non clonal vs clonal
Which are the 4 important characteristics of acquired immunity?
- Diversity
- Specificity
- Memory: each exposure to antigens generates long lived memory cells
- Self tolerance (characteristic also of innate immunity)
Which are the 5 cardinal signs of inflammation?
- Heat
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain
- Loss of function
Which are the hallmarks of acute inflammation?
- Infiltration of leukocytes into tissues
- Hyperemia
- Edema
- Increased vascular permeability
What is the cluster of differentiation (CD) number and why is it important?
It is a number that identifies all structurally defined surface molecules and is used in the developmnet of therapeutic antibodies.
What is the role of histamine in inflammation and allergic reactions?
Mast cells’ granules contain histamine, whose release causes visodilation and increased vascular permeability, thus promoting inflammation.
Why are mast cells important in allergic reactions?
They have Fcεri receptors on their surface that, when bound to IgEs, trigger degranulation of the cell and release of histamine in the blood circulation
Which factor triggers the production of granulocytes and macrophages in the bone marrow?
The granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor
Why can neutrophils be defined as polymorphonuclear leukocytes?
Because their nucleus is segmented into 3 to 5 lobules
What are the long lived tissue resident macrophages and when do they develop?
They are a special type of macrophages found in the tissues that develop at birth and have specialized functions
Describe the classical activation process of macrophages.
This process is triggered by microbial molecules and IFN-γ, released by Th1. These macrophages will secrete chemokines such as Il-1, Il-12, and Il-23 that promote inflammation
Describe the alternative activation process of macrophages.
This process is triggered by Il-4 and Il-13, released by Th2. These macrophages secrete Il-10, an anti-inflammatory chemokine, and are involved in tissue repair
What does it mean that dendritic cells are the only professional APCs?
They are able to activate T cells directly, without the need of en effector T cell.
How is the inital activation of naive cells called?
Priming
Which are the marker and the antigen expressed on HSCs?
CD 34 marker and SCA-1 antigen
What is the peculiarity of the medullary thymic epithelial cells?
Thei present self antigens to developing T cells to gurantee selection of the lymphocytes, thus self tolerance
In what consists the Di George syndrome?
It is a genetic mutation that leads to an impaired thymic development and results in a natal defect of T cells.
In which vessel is the lymph coming from the toracic duct collected?
Superior vena cava
What is the role of fibroblastic reticular cells in the lymph nodes?
Form conducts that transport antigens to the T cells populated zones
What is the role of high endothelial venules?
Bring naive T cells, antigens, and APCs into the populated zones
What is the structural difference between the four families of chemokines?
- CC: 2 adjacent cysteine residues
- CXC: 2 cysteine residues divided by 1 aminoacid
- CX3C: 2 cystein residues divided by 3 aminoacids
- C: 1 cysteine residue
What does GPCR stand for?
Guanosine triphosphate binding protein-coupled receptor
What is the function of the atipical chemokine receptors?
Do not ingage in signaling pathways but inhibit or terminate chemokine responses in cells
How do chemokines recruit circulating leukocytes during inflammatory reactions?
- Increasing the leukocytes adhesion to the endothelium
- Creating a chemokine concentration gradient
In what does the process of margination of the leukocytes consist and why is it important?
When the blood flow decreases the leukocytes will tend to move closer to the vessel lining due to their dimension. This facilitates the binding of the selectin ligands to E- and P-selectins found on endothelial cells
Where is the CD31 protein expressed?
On the surfaces of both leukocytes and endothelial cells
What are the E, L, and R motifs of the chemokines and why are they important?
They represent a sequence of glutamic acid, leucine and arginine located before the cysteine. Only the chemokines that present this particular motifs participate in the migration of neutrophils out of the blood vessels.
For how much time does a single T cell normmaly remain into a lymph node?
24 hours