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Y1 IMS > Immunology > Flashcards

Immunology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the immunesystem

A

A complex orchestration of molecules, cells, tissues and organs to protect against:
Microbial pathogens including bacteria, viruses, parasites
Tumor cells

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2
Q

What are the two lines of defence

A

Innate, first line of defence

Adaptive, second line of defence

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3
Q

What is active immunity vs passive immunity

A

Active: antigens enter body and trigger immune systems, provides long term protection

Passive: antibodies pass from mother to:
Foetus across the placenta,
Infant in breast milk
Provides short term protection

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4
Q

What is the role of a neutrophil

A

Principle phagocytic cell of innate immunity
Rapidly migrate to infection site, ingest microbes by phagocytosis, release oxygen free radicals, degranulate releasing proteins with microbicidal properties

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5
Q

What is the role of the eosinophils

A

Important defender against multicellular parasites and have a role in allergy and asthma

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6
Q

What is the role of the basophils

A

Involved in inflammatory allergic reaction

Release histamine

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7
Q

What is the role of moncytes

A

Circulate in blood, bean shaped nuclei, precursors of tissue macrophages
Effectors of inflammatory response to microbes
Kills pathogens via phagocytosis, free radical production, myeloperoxidase and inflammatory cytokines

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8
Q

What is the role of macrophages

A

Derived from blood monocytes
Participate in innate and adaptive immunity
Phagocytosis, microbicidal mechanisms, antigen presentation to other cells

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9
Q

What is the role of the dendritic cells

A

Process and present antigens on their cell surface to T-lymphocytes to initiate specific immune responses

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10
Q

What is the role of the mast cell

A

Similarities with basophils, release histamine, close association with allergy and inflammation

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11
Q

What are B-lymphocytes

A

Produce antibodies
Present antigens to other cells
Can produce long lived memory cells
Need two signals to be activated: antibody/antigen interaction acne other T-cells or inflammatory mediators

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12
Q

What are T-lymphocytes

A

Plays critical role in development and regulation of cell mediated immunity
Influences the activities of other cells
Able to kill virally infected and tumour cells
Generate long lived memory cells

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13
Q

What are natural killer cells

A

Generally considered part of the innate immune response
Release cytokines (IFN-y and IL-2) and granzymes and trigger apoptosis in target cell
Kill infected cells which do not express foreign surface antigen
Respond rapidly
Involved in tumour immunosurveillance

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14
Q

Where is the primary lymphoid tissue and what happens there

A

Bone marrow: b-lymphocytes
Thymus gland: t-lymphocytes
Development and maturation of lymphocytes

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15
Q

Where is the secondary lymphoid tissue and what happens there

A

Lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, appendix, adenoids, Peyer’s patches in ileum, bronchial associated lymphoid tissues
Mature lymphocytes encounter antigens/pathogens

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16
Q

What are key components of innate immune system

A

Mechanical barriers: skin and mucus membrane
Physiological: stomach acid and fever response
Chemical mediators: plasma proteins
Phagocytic leukocytes
Natural killer cells

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17
Q

What are the two types of adaptive immune system

A

Humoral immunity mediated by antibodies produced by B lymphocytes
Cell-mediated immunity effected by T lymphocytes

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18
Q

How does a vaccination work

A

Exposure to antigen -> activation -> clone formation -> formulation of plasma cells and memory cells -> Plasma cells secrete antibodies into circulation -> memory cells store information until the next exposure to the same antigen

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19
Q

What are the 5 types of immunoglobin and what are their roles

A 
IgM
IgG
IgA
IgE
IgD
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20
Q

What are the roles of IgM

A

Main antibody of primary response, best at fixing complement, monomer form serves as B cell receptor

21
Q

What are the roles of IgG

A

Main blood antibody of secondary responses
Neutralizes toxins
Opsonization

22
Q

What are the roles of IgA

A

Secreted into mucus, tears, saliva, colostrum

23
Q

What are the roles of IgE

A

Antibody of allergy and anti parasitic activity

24
Q

What is the role of IgD

A

B cell receptor

25
Q

How do antibodies work

A

Label invading organisms to be destroyed by other parts of immune system, this is opsonisation

26
Q

What is the major histocompatibility complex

A

Inherited
T cells only recognise antigens as complexes with MHC molecules
Peptides are presented on the surface of of antigen presenting cells in association with the MHC
Allows immune cells to discriminate between normal antigens and foreign ones

27
Q

What are MHC class I molecules

A

Present on almost every cell in the body
Present endogenous antigens that are synthesised in the cytoplasm on the surface
Displayed to cytotoxic T cell lymphocytes (CD8+)
If foreign the cell is killed otherwise it is spared

28
Q

What are MHC class II molecules

A

Only present on specialised antigen-presenting immune cells: macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells
Present exogenous antigens that originate extracellularly from foreign bodies
This is recognised by helper T cell lymphocyte (CD4+)
The binding stimulates development of antibody-producing B cells against the antigen

29
Q

What are the types of immune system disorders

A

Autoimmunity
Hypersensitivity reactions
Immunodeficiencies

30
Q

What is the function of the complement cascade

A

Membrane attack complex produced to stab at invading pathogens
Produce anaphylatoxins
Prime pathogens for phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils (opsonisation)

31
Q

What are the three types of complement activation pathways

A

Classical
Lectin or mannose-binding
Alternative

32
Q

What is the classical pathway

A

Activated by antigen-antibody complexes
Complement factors are serine proteases
Limited proteolysis

33
Q

What is the Lectin or mannose-binding pathway

A

Involves mannose-binding lectin which binds sugars (mannose) found on the surface of pathogens but not on mammalian cells
MBL binds with MASP 1 and 2 which activate C2 and C4, rest of pathway is as it was in classical

34
Q

What pathogens trigger the mannose-binding pathway

A

Yeast such as Candida albicans
Viruses such as HIV and inluenza A
Bacteria including Salmonella and Streptococci
Parasites such as Leishmania

35
Q

What is the alternative pathway

A

Involves auto-activation of C3 to C3a and C3b which occurs constantly at a very low rate
Upon contact with bacteria auto-activated C3b binds factor B and properdin which rapidly activates more C3 and activates C5

36
Q

What are the anaphylatoxins

A

C3a, C4a and C5a
By-products of C3-5 during complement activation
Trigger degranulation of endothelial cells, mast cells and phagocytes
Cause smooth muscle contraction and enhance vascular permeability
C3a and C5a also act as chemoattractants; they attract and activate neutrophils

37
Q

What is opsonisation by C3b

A

C3b renders bacteria more susceptible to phagocytosis
C3b is cleaved to iC3b on the bacterial surface
The macrophage cell membrane contains receptors for iC3b, facilitating phagocytosis of the bacteria by the macrophage

38
Q

What are the roles of the hyperactive macrophages

A

Become hyperactive when stimulated by IFN-y and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by gram-negative bacteria

Hyperactive macrophages stop proliferating, become larger and increase they rate of phagocytosis

Hyperactive macrophages produce cytokines: tumour necrosis factor (TNF) which can kill tumour cells and virus-infected cells, and interleukin-1 (IL-1)

39
Q

What are the three stages of macrophage activation

A

Resting
Primed
Hyperactive

40
Q

What is produced as a result of B-cell maturation

A

B-cell matures into plasma cell which allows for production of large quantities of antibody

41
Q

What cells can present antigens to T-cells

A

Monocytes
Macrophages
B cells
Dendritic cells

42
Q

What are the three types of T-cells

A

Helper: Activate B cells, activate phagocytes and help other T cells
Killer: cytotoxic T lymphocytes, effective at attacking viruses
Regulatory: not fully understood, regulate against self destruction

43
Q

What are the CD3 CD4 and CD5 molecules

A

CD3 is associated with T cell receptor to make the CD3/TCR complex

CD4: helper
CD8: cytotoxic

44
Q

What is MHC and its two types

A

Glycoprotein present on cell surfaces that help differentiate self from non-self

Plays crucial role in T cell activation

MHC II (helper)
MHC I (cytotoxic/ killer cells)
45
Q

What are the Th1 and Th2 cytokine roles

A

Th1: activate cell mediated immunity

Th2 are responsible for antibody production

46
Q

What is autoimmune disease

A

Occurs when self tolerance against a body antigen is broken

47
Q

What are examples of autoimmune conditions

A 
Organ specific:
Thyroid disease 
Type 1 diabetes
Pernicious anaemia
Some skin conditions

Non-organ specific:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

48
Q

What is anergy

A

T- cells become temporarily unresponsive to all signals due to lack of co-activation

Y1 IMS (9 decks)

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