Immunology Flashcards by Sarah Ricciuti

Inflammatory response

redness
necrosis
pus
swelling
hyperanaemia - attract more blood flow to the area
pain is caused by chemicals that are released by immune cells
loss of function

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process of inflammation

blood vessels dilate
recruitment of immune cells
repair and healing
healing and resolution

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Types of inflammation

acute or chronic

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Acute inflammation

predominantly neutrophils
vasoactive histamines or amines and eicosanoids
lasts a few days and usually manifests in a closed tissue compartment such as a cyst or pustule

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Chronic inflammation

predominantly macrophages
cytokines
lasts a long time but usually leads to scar tissue or fibrosis
defined as a pathological state characterised by the continued and inappropriate response of the immune system leading to an inflammatory response

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Functions of the innate immune system

defend against broad categories of pathogens - bacteria and parasites
provides a link to the adaptive immune respose - presents components and secretes cytokines

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How does antigen recognition occur?

WBC recognises antigens as foreign and promotes an inflammatory response
innate immune response cells recognise broad categories of surface receptors
innate immune cell then presents fragment of phagotytised pathogens on its own cell surface
the adaptive immune response will then recognise a specific antigen - increase the cell numbers that can respond to the antigen

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Antibodies

are integral part of the adaptive immune system:
produced by B cells
y shaped molecule that sits on the surface of the B cell
antibodies are usually sirface antibodies
generated in the bone marrow

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Structure of antibody

made up of 4 chains of proteins interlinked
heavy chains linked together
light chains linked together with the heavy chains

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Antidbody types

IgM 
IgD 
IgE 
IgG
IgA

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recombination process

a progenitor B cell gives rise to a B cell proper with DNA specific for respective antibody production
B cell gains specificity and variability by effectively shuffling the DNA sequence
results in each B cell having different antibodies randomly produced

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Sickle cell anaemia

an inherited disorder that affect RBC
characterised by RBCs that are sickle or oblong shaped, contained haemoglobin S, are poor oxygen carriers, and live for only 16 days

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types of sickle cell anaemia

Vaso-occlusive crisis - blood flow to organs restricted
aplastic crisis - worsening of baseline anaemia
haemolytic crisis - acute, accelerated drop in haemoglobin level
splenic sequestration crisis - acute enlargement of the spleen

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Complications of sickle cell anaemia

CVA, gallstones, acute jaundice, splenic infection, opiate tolerance, leg ulcers, retinopathy, chronic pain, pulmonary hypertension, chronic renal failure, avascular necrosis

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Thrombosis

development of blood clot in blood vessels

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RIsk factors for thrombophilia

recent surgery
impaired mobility 
congestive heart failure
cancer
resp failure

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haemophilia

congenital; impaired ability to form clots

predominant in males

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signs and symptoms of haemophilia

spontaneous, acute, chronic bleeding

intracranial bleeding

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DIC signs and symptoms

primarily from bleeding and ischamia to affected organs
bleeding causes oozing of blood from various orifices, ecchymosis, petichiae
hypo perfusion and shock result from haemorrhage and changes in vascular tone
acute renal failure occurs as a result of hepatic dysfunction and haemolysis
pulmonary symptoms such as dyspnoea

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management of DIC

correction of underlying process
airway and haemodynamic management
blood product admin with goals of correcting severe thrombocytopenia, haemorrhage management, coagulation factor replacement
mitigation of hyper coagulation

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complications of haemophilia

IV access should only be performed where a therapautic intervention is required in the pre hospital setting

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complications of lymphoma

anaemia in cancer pts results from:

chemo, radiotherapy, GI blood loss, iron deficiency

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signs and symptoms of lymphoma

swollen lymph nodes, enlargement of spleen, pain from swollen lymph nodes, fever, chills

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innate immunity

non-specific immune response, first line of defence

recruitment of immune cells to site of infection

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inflammation

the body's attempt at self protection to remove harmful stimuli: damage cells, irritants, pathogens begin the healing process

stages of inflammation

1. irritation or infection 2. increased blood flow - dilation of blood vessels 3. granulation - ingrowth of capillaries, RBCs, fibroblasts 4. chemotaxis - messengers, chemotactic factors 5. inflammation - migration of neutrophils, few macrophages 6. cell adhesion 7. suppuration - discharge of pus 8. edema - fluid in interstital spaces of the region 9. repair and healing

symptoms of acute inflammation

``` redness of skin heat swelling increase production of mucous pain dysfunction ```

symptoms of chronic inflammation

bloating, passing gas, burning skin, bags under eyes, itchy ears, diarrheoa, constipation, cramping, joint pain, muscle spasms, twitching, fatigue, rash, hives, acne, tough skin, headache, edema, water retention

Phagocytosis

the capture and digestion of foreign particles

adaptive immune response

specific activation of the immune response | activation of lymphocytes

B cell development

B lymphocytes - B cells - plasma cells - antibodies

antibody types

``` IgM IgD IgE IgG IgA ```

Thymus

specialised organ of the immune system | T cells mature, site of T cell development

Autoimmunity

results when the body fails to recognise the difference between self and non-self antigens or epitopes, and mounts an immunologic response to those antigens

Function of lymphocytes

destroy mico-organisms at site of infection remove foreign substances and body debris independent movement increased WBCs - leukocytsis increased abnormal WBCs - leukemia decreased WBCs - leukopoenia

classification of WBCs (leukocytes)

granulocytes - most numerous WBCs, grannules in cytoplasm eosinophils - destroy parasites, involved in allergies basophils - least common mast cells - resident cells neutrophils - destroy harmful microorganisms

Eoinophillia

high number of eosiophils in blood

eosinopenia

decrease of eosinophils in blood

basophilia

abnormal elevation of basophils in blood

basopenia

basophil deficiency

agranulocytes

no granules

monocytes

largest of WBCs, move from blood to tissues

monocytosis

increase number of monocytes in the blood

monocytopenia

low number of monocytes in the blood

types of lymphocytes

B cells - produce antibodies against antigens, bacteria T cells - kill or help kill foreign antigens, tumours NK cells - kill viruses, tumours

lymphocytosis

increase number of lymphocytes in the blood

lymphocytopenia

low level of lymphocytes in the blood

diseases that feature eosinophilia

asthma, hay fever, drug allergies, parasitic infection, addison's diease, some blood cancers, HIV, SLE

causes of basopenia

urticaria, anaphylaxis, during ovulation, hyperthyroid, acute infection, steroids

basophilia seen in

ulcerative colitis, juvenile RA, drugs, diabetes, infection, Fe deficiency

neutrophilia may indicate

malignancy, CML, appendicitis, splenectomy, medications

causes of neutropenia

cancers, chemo, toxins, radiation, vitamin b12 deficiency, haemodialysis, medications, chronic infection

causes of monocytosis

acute or chronic infection, leukemias, autoimmune disease, neutropenia

causes of monocytopenia

hairy cell laeukemia, chronic use of prednisolone, acute infections, acute myeloid leukemia, drugs

causes of lymphocytosis

acute viral infection, leukemias, lymphoma

causes of lymphocytopenia

cancer, immune deficiency, AIDs, high cortisol

leukocytosis

white blood cell count above average

leukopenia

decreased number of white blood cells, | can be caused by radiation, chemo, SLE

lymphadenopathy

enlarged lymph nodes that become palapable and tender local: drainage of an inflammatory lesion located near the enlarged node general: occurs in the presence of malignant or nonmalignent disease

infectious mononucleosis

also known as glandular fever | swollen lymph node, acute infection of B lymphocytes

symptoms of infectious mononucleoleosis

fever, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, increase lymphocyte count

multiple myeloma

plasma cell neoplasm, B cells | overproduction of plasma cells in the bone marrow