Immunology Flashcards
Lymph drainage: What does the right lymphatic duct drain?
Right arm and right half of head
Lymph drainage: What does the thoracic duct drain?
Everything except for the right arm and the right half of head
What does the white pulp of the spleen contain?
Contains: 1. Lymphoid follicles with germinal centers (mostly B cells). Can see aggregation of dark basophilic lymphocytic nuclei. 2. Characteristic central arterioles. Surrounded by a Periarterial lymphatic sheath (PALS) which is a collection of T-lymphocytes.
Where is the red pulp of the spleen located?
Around and between the lymphatic nodules of the white pulp
Splenic cords: What are they?
Structures containing macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes, and few RBCs. Separated from each other by splenic sinusoids.
Thymus: Function
Site of T-cell differentiation and maturation (T cells differentiate in the Thymus. B cells differentiate in the Bone marrow)
Thymus: Embryological origin
Epithelium of 3rd branchial pouches
Lymphocytes: Embryological origin
Mesenchyme
Thymus: What does the cortex contain and what does it look like?
The lobules resemble lymphatic nodules except they are angular, not round.Contains:1. Densely packed (dark) immature T cells.2. Large epithelial reticular cells which appear as holes within the cortical cells.
What is positive selection of T cells?
Retention of T cells that have functioning T cell receptors
Where do positive and negative selection of T-cells occur in the thymus?
At the corticomedullary junction
What is negative selection of T cells?
Destruction of T-cells that react to self-antigen
Innate immunity vs adaptive immunity: How are receptors that recognize pathogens encoded?
Innate: Germline encoded
Adaptive: Undergo VDJ recombination during development
Innate immunity vs adaptive immunity: How fast is response to pathogens?
Innate: Always fast, no memory response.
Adaptive: Slow on 1st exposure but memory response is faster and more robust.
T-cell differentiation: What CD?
CD3
T-cell differentiation: What happens to T-cell precursors when they enter the thymus, and what are they called?
Once T-cell precursors acquire and display CD4 and CD8, they are cortical thymocytes.
T-cell differentiation: Where is the T-cell in its development when it undergoes positive selection?
Both CD4 positive and CD8 positive
T-cell differentiation: Where in the thymus are cells which are positive for both CD4 and CD8 located?
Thymic cortex
T-cell differentiation: Where is the T-cell in its development when it undergoes negative selection?
Either CD4 positive or CD8 positive, not both
T-cell differentiation: Where in the thymus are cells which are positive for either CD4 or CD8 located?
Thymic medulla
T-cell differentiation: What are the two types of helper T cells and where do they differentiate?
In the lymph node, helper T cells differentiate into Th1 cells, and Th2 cells.
Differences between Th1 and Th2 cells: Stimulant for differentiation from archetypical helper T cell.
Th1: IL-12 from both other Th1 cells and antigen-presenting dendritic cells
Th2: IL-4 from other Th2 cells and presumably an unknown factor from dendritic cells
Differences between Th1 and Th2 cells: Cytokines produced by both types
Both: IL-2
Th1: IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha
Th2: IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13
Cytokine effects: Interleukin 2
Stimulates T-cell growth and proliferationMnemonic for first 5 interleukins: Hot T-bone stEAk
Cytokine effects: Interferon gamma
- Inhibits Th2 cytokines2. Induces class I and II MHC3. Stimulates differentiation of monocytes into macrophages.4. Activates macrophages.
Cytokine effects: Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha
- Activates macrophages, neutrophils (also attracts them), and CD8 cells.2. Induces neutrophil-endothelial cell adhesion.3. Constitutional: sepsis, cachexia (“wasting away”), fever, acute phase proteins. 4. Tumor cell lysis5. Increased proliferation of B-cells6. Increased synthesis of IL-2 receptors by Th cells.7. Stimulates dendritic cell migration to lymph nodes.
Cytokine effects: Interleukin 4
- Growth of B-cells2. Growth and proliferation of T-cells3. Synthesis of IgE4. Class switching of IgG to IgE5. Inhibits IL-8, IL-1, and TNF-alphaMnemonic for first 5 interleukins: Hot T-bone stEAk. E as in stimulates IgE production.
Cytokine effects: Interleukin 5
- Differentiation of B cells 2. Class switching of IgA3. Production and activation of eosinophilsMnemonic for first 5 interleukins: Hot T-bone stEAk. A as in stimulates IgA production.
What cytokines stimulate the acute phase response?
- IL-12. IL-63. TNF-alpha
What are acute phase response proteins used for?
- Augment immune response (complement, Ig)2. Regulate the extent of response (protease inhibitors like alpha-1-antitrypsin)3. Stimulate additional responses (alpha-2-macroglobulin)
Cytokine effects: Interleukin 10
Big picture: Stimulates Th2 while inhibiting Th1Specifically inhibits:1. IL-82. IL-13. TNF-alpha4. IFN-gamma
What releases: Interleukin 10
- Th2 cells2. Macrophages
Differences between Th1 and Th2 cells: Major effects
Both: Downregulate each otherTh1: Activates all lymphocytes and APCs, especially CD8 cells and macrophages.Th2 cells: 1. B cells: Increased differentiation, proliferation, antibody, and class switching.2: Activation of eosinophils
What releases: Interleukin 2
Th cells
What releases: Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha
Macrophages (emphasized) and Th1 cells
What releases: Interferon gamma
Th1 cells (emphasized) and NK cells
What releases: Interleukin 5
T cells (especially Th2) and mast cells
What releases: Interleukin 6
T cells (especially Th), macrophages, and endothelial cells
What is MHC and what codes for it?
Major Histocompatability Complex encoded by Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)
MHC I and II: What cells are they expressed on?
I: All nucleated cells except sperm.
II: Antigen Presenting Cells
B cells and T cells: Effect on Ig
B cells: Make it
T cells: (CD4) Help B cells make it and release IFN-gamma to activate macrophages
B cells and T cells: Method of killing
B cells: IgG opsonizes bacteria and virusesT cells: (CD8) Directly kills virus-infected cells
B cells and T cells: Allergy mechanism
B: Type I hypersensitivity, through IgET: Type IV hypersensitivity
B cells and T cells: Organ rejection speed
B: Fast, through antibodiesT: Slow
CD/MHC: What binds MHC II?
CD4 T-cell receptors
What does MHC I pair with (allosteric interaction)
beta2-microglobulin
CD/MHC: What binds MHC I?
CD8 T-cell receptors
CD/MHC: What binds CD4 T-cell receptors?
MHC II on antigen presenting cells
CD/MHC: What binds CD8 T-cell receptors?
MHC I on virus-infected cells