Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Principles > Immunology > Flashcards

Immunology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the bodies first line of defence?

A

Physical barriers - skin, mucous, commensal bacteria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are cytokines?

A

Small proteins that can modify cellular behaviour (co-ordinate the immune system)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is TNF-alpha?

A

A pro-inflammatory cytokine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are antibodies and what produces them?

A

Produced by antigen activated B cells - are immunoglobulin proteins that are made specifically in response to an antigen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the roles of B and T cells?

A

B cells: secretion of antigens against extracellular pathogens
T cells:
Helper T cells (immune system regulators)
or
Cytotoxic T cells (kill virally infected body cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which form of T cells are CD4 or CD8?

A 
CD4+T = Helper T cells
CD8+T = Cytotixic T cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the purpose of natural killer cells (NK)?

A

To detect and kill tumour cells or virally infected cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which cells can undergo phagocytosis?

A

Monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the difference between monocytes and macrophages?

A

Monocytes - live in the blood

Macrophages - liver in tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Name the 3 granular cells and state their location/job

A 
Basophils + Eosinphils (circulate in the blood - recruited to sites of infection)
Mast cells (reside in tissues - degranulate to release histamine)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Name the primary and secondary lymphoid tissues

A

Primary: thymus + haemapoietic bone marrow
Secondary: spleen, lymph nodes, small/large intestine (peters patches in ileum of SI)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are secondary lymphoid tissues?

A

Sites where T/B cells become activated by an antigen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which of the following are part of the innate immune system and which are part of the adaptive?
Macrophages, neutrophils, complement proteins, acute inflammation, mast cells, NK cells, B cells (antibodies), T cells

A

Innate: macrophages, neutrophils, complement proteins, acute inflammation, mast cells, NK cells
Adaptive: B cells (antibodies), T cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the response time for the innate and adaptive immune system?

A

Innate: mins-hours
Adaptive: days

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What kind of cells communicate between the innate and adaptive immune system?

A

Dendritic cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 2 methods of communication in the immune system?

A 
Direct contact (receptor + ligand)
Cytokines
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What kind of cells produce interferons?

A

Virally infected cells (interferon alpha/beta)

Interferon gamma: induced by stimulation of lymphocytes (increases activity of macrophages)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the difference between MHC class I and II?

A

Class I: on the surface of all cells - prevents self-attack (presents intracellular proteins)
Class II: on surface of antigen presenting cells (such as dendritic cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How does the innate immune system recognise pathogens?

A

PAMPS/PRR:
PAMP (pathogen associated molecular patterns) are expressed on the surface of pathogens
PRR (pattern recognition receptors) are expressed on the surface of dendritic cells and macrophages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are inflammatory mediators?

A

Serotonin/histamine

Case vasodilation and increases vascular permeability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is CRP used for?

A

Marker of inflammation

Activates complement system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What effect do reactive oxygen species have upon cells?

A

Are toxic - produced by neutrophils to kill cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Where are complement proteins produced?

A

Liver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the key complement protein in activation of the complement cascade?

A

Cleaving of C3 to C3a and C3b

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is opsonisation?

A

The coating of pathogens with opsonins to facilitate pathogensis (C3b, CRP, IgG/M)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How does the adaptive immune system recognise pathogens?

A

Antigens + antigen receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What are the 2 chains of an antibody?

A

Heavy and light chain (contain a variable region and a constant domain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Where do adaptive immune responses occur?

A

Secondary lymphoid tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Where are dendritic cells activated and where do they mature to?

A

Immature in peripheral tissues,
Phagocytes antigens,
Mature + migrate to secondary lymphoid tissues to present antigens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

How many signals do B and T cells need for activation and what are these?

A

2
T cells: MHC class II + another dendritic cell complex
B cells: antigen/BCR + PAMP/PRR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What kind of cells can becomes memory cells?

A

B and T cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are plasma cells?

A

A fully differentiated B cell that produces a specific antibody

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the 5 classes of immunoglobulins?

A

IgA, IgG, IgD, IgE, IgM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is the first Ig type produced during an immune response?

A

IgM

35
Q

Which Ig type is present as a pentamer?

A

IgM

36
Q

Which is the most and second most abundant Ig classes?

A

Most abundant: IgG

Second most abundant: IgA

37
Q

Which Ig class provides foetal immune protection and which provides neonatal defence?

A

Foetal immune protection: IgG - actively transported across placenta
Neonatal defence: IgA

38
Q

Which Ig classes act as B cell activators when membrane bound?

A

IgM (most common), IgD, IgA

39
Q

What is the function of IgD?

A

Not fully understood - extremely low levels in blood

40
Q

Which Ig class exists as a dimer?

A

IgA - dimer in all secretions except blood (monomer)

41
Q

Which Ig type is present in mucosa?

A

IgA

42
Q

What does IgE do?

A

Triggers allergic responses

43
Q

What do T helper cells do?

A

Help stimulate other immune cells,

Increase the activity of other immune cells,

44
Q

What is the function of cytotoxic T cells (CD8+T cells)?

A

To kill virally infected cells

45
Q

What are the signs of immunodeficiency?

A 
SPUR
S- serious infections
P-persistent infections
U-unusual infections 
R- recurrent infections
46
Q

What are the two types of immunodeficiency and which is more common?

A

Primary and secondary

Secondary = more common (acquired - can be caused by drugs etc)

47
Q

What is Kostmann syndrome?

A

Blocked neutrophil development (primary immunodeficiency)

48
Q

What is the definitive treatment for most primary immunodeficiencies?

A

Stem cell transplantation, gene therapy

49
Q

Which MHC class do CD4 and CD8 cells recognise and respond to?

A 
CD8 = MHC class I (don't kill these cells)
CD4 = MHC class II (activate immune system to respond to presented pathogen)
50
Q

What is SCID?

A

Severe combined immunodeficiency - failure in differentiation of the adaptive immune system after production of immune cells

51
Q

What is DiGeorge syndrome?

A

Deletion on chromosome 22 (cleft palate etc) - have absent T cells (failure in thymus development)

52
Q

What is hypersensitivity?

A

Overreaction of the immune system to a normal stimulus

53
Q

What are the 4 types of hypersensitivity reactions?

A

Type I: immediate hypersensitivity (Allergic reactions)
Type II: Direct cell killing
Type III: Immune complex mediated
Type IV: Delayed type hypersensitivity

1 = Allergic reaction
2 = antiBody
3 = immune Complexes
4 = Delayed
54
Q

What is allergic rhinitis more commonly known as?

A

Hayfever

55
Q

Which antibody mediates allergic reactions?

A

IgE

56
Q

What happens in the first and second exposure to an allergen?

A

First: B cells produce allergen-specific IgE antibodies which bind to mast cells
Second: IgE antibodies remain in the bodies circulation bound to mast cells, causes degranulation of mast cells (histamine = vasodilation/vascular permeability) - increased immediate reaction to allergen

57
Q

Which form of asthma is in response to an allergen?

A

Extrinsic asthma

58
Q

Levels of what substance can be measured to identify recent anaphylaxis?

A

Tryptase (histamine peaks and falls too quickly to be measured)

59
Q

What is an anti-mast cell agent and how is ti applied?

A

Sodium cromoglycate - topical spray

60
Q

What receptor do anti-histamines act upon?

A

H1 receptor antagonists

61
Q

Name and describe the action of a leukotriene receptor antagonist

A

Monteleukast: blocks the effects of leukotrienes which are produced by mast cells after activation

62
Q

How do corticosteroids work?

A

Mimic the bodies natural steroids

Inhibits formation of different inflammatory mediators (cytokines etc)

63
Q

How does adrenaline in anaphylaxis work?

A

Acts upon B2 receptors - constricts arterial smooth muscle (limits vascular leakage)

64
Q

How does immunotherapy work?

A

Small amounts of exposure over time which build up to train the body not to react to an allergen

65
Q

How does type II hypersensitivity reactions work?

A

Direct cell killing by binding of antigens to antibodies

66
Q

What are immune complexes?

A

Antigen + antibody complexes

67
Q

How is type II hypersensitivity treated?

A

Immunosuppression

68
Q

Which antibody is associated with type II hypersensitivity?

A

IgG

69
Q

What type of reaction is acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

A

Type III (immune complex mediated)

70
Q

How does type III hypersensitivity work?

A

Antibody binds to soluble antigen precipitating it out of solution and causing it to become trapped in the vasculature

71
Q

How is type III hypersensitivity treated?

A

Avoidance,
Steroids (decrease inflammation)
Immunosuppressant (decrease antibody production)

72
Q

How does type IV hypersensitivity work?

A

Initial exposure to an antigen produces no response - however produces CD4 and memory T cells
If exposed again, CD4 triggers immune system to activate macrophages
=> controlled by macrophages

73
Q

What is autoimmunity?

A

The presence of immune responses against self-tissues

74
Q

What do HLA genes code for?

A

MHC class I and II

75
Q

In which population group and autoimmune diseases more common?

A

Women

76
Q

What 3 factors contribute to auto-immunity?

A

Genes,
Environment,
Immune regulation

77
Q

What is Goodpastures syndrome?

A

Autoimmune disease where antibodies attack the basement membranes in the kidneys and lungs

78
Q

What are the clinical signs of lupus (Systemic lupus erythematosus)

A

Butterfly rash across nose
Poor circulation in fingers and toes
Loss of appetite
Arthritis

79
Q

Which autoimmune diseases are type IV hypersensitivity reactions?

A

Type 1 diabetes,
Coeliac disease
Rheumatoid arthritis

80
Q

Describe the 4 types of hypersensitivity reaction?

A

Type I: (minutes) vasoactive molecules are released by mast cells and macrophages on exposure to antigen
Type II: Antibody binds to host cell + kills it
Type III: Antibody + soluble antigen form complex which gets stuck in vasculature and causes local inflammation
Type IV: CD4 cells activated upon initial exposure, on further exposure CD4 cells activate macrophages

81
Q

What kind of disease is coeliac?

A

Autoimmune

82
Q

What is the gold standard for diagnosis of coeliac disease?

A

Biopsy

83
Q

What is the principle behind vaccination?

A

Allows formation of memory to antigen response (by a small non-disease causing exposure to antigen)

84
Q

What is the difference histologically between the different types of white blood cell?

A

Neutrophils - multi lobed nucleus
Eosinophils - granules + bilobed nucleus
Basophils - nucleus obscured by granules
Macrophages - horseshoe shaped nucleus
Lymphocytes - large nucleus covering most of the cell

Principles (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions