Immunology Flashcards
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
process of inflammation
- blood vessels dilate
- recruitment of immune cells
- repair and healing
- healing and resolution
Types of inflammation
acute or chronic
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
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
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
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
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
Structure of antibody
made up of 4 chains of proteins interlinked
heavy chains linked together
light chains linked together with the heavy chains
Antidbody types
IgM IgD IgE IgG IgA
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
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
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
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
Thrombosis
development of blood clot in blood vessels
RIsk factors for thrombophilia
recent surgery impaired mobility congestive heart failure cancer resp failure
haemophilia
congenital; impaired ability to form clots
predominant in males
signs and symptoms of haemophilia
spontaneous, acute, chronic bleeding
intracranial bleeding
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
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
complications of haemophilia
IV access should only be performed where a therapautic intervention is required in the pre hospital setting
complications of lymphoma
anaemia in cancer pts results from:
chemo, radiotherapy, GI blood loss, iron deficiency
signs and symptoms of lymphoma
swollen lymph nodes, enlargement of spleen, pain from swollen lymph nodes, fever, chills
innate immunity
non-specific immune response, first line of defence
recruitment of immune cells to site of infection
inflammation
the body’s attempt at self protection
to remove harmful stimuli: damage cells, irritants, pathogens
begin the healing process
stages of inflammation
- irritation or infection
- increased blood flow - dilation of blood vessels
- granulation - ingrowth of capillaries, RBCs, fibroblasts
- chemotaxis - messengers, chemotactic factors
- inflammation - migration of neutrophils, few macrophages
- cell adhesion
- suppuration - discharge of pus
- edema - fluid in interstital spaces of the region
- 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
