Immunology Flashcards
Name 5 things in place to protect the eye from infection
Blink reflex Tears Mucous layer Chemicals Presence of immune cells
Blink reflex - immunological function
Pathogen clearing system
Tears - immunological function
Allows flushing of the eye
Mucous layer - function
Prevents things from sticking to the eye
Chemicals - function
Lysozyme
Lactoferrin
Immune cells in the eye - name 3
Neutrophil
Macrophage
Conjunctival mast cell
What is the principle APC in the eye? and where are most found?
Langerhans cells
Most found at corneo-scleral limbus
What is the only part of the eye with lymphatic drainage?
Conjunctiva
The cornea is vascular / avascular ?
Avascular
What is the function of the blood-ocular barrier?
Prevents the spread of systemic infection into the eye
Foreign organisms that come into the eye replicate slowly / quickly?
Quickly
Immune privilege - definition
Ability to tolerate the introduction of antigens without eliciting an inflammatory immune response
Immune privilege and tissue grafts
Tissue grafts are normally attacked by the immune system as they are recognised by the body as foreign.
Tissue grades can survive for extended periods without transplant rejection in immune privilege sites.
Anterior chamber associated immune deviation (ACAID)
Placing foreign antigen into the ocular microenvironment.
Aims to down-regulate the immune response within the eye
Protects the eye from damage of an immune response
Disadvantages of immune privilege
Immune privilege breaks down if there is significant infection or injury
