Immunology Flashcards

1
Q

What is innate immunity?

A

An immune response that is present from birth

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

Give 3 features of an innate immune response

A
  • ) Immediate
  • ) Non-specific
  • ) Slow
  • ) No memory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does PAMP stand for, and where is it found?

A

Pathogen associated molecular patterns, on microbe

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

What does PRR stand for, and where is it found?

A

Pattern recognition receptors, on cells

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

How is the innate immune system activated?

A

Activated by PRRs on dendritic cells recognising conserved PAMPs on microbes and triggering a response

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

What does TLR stand for?

A

Toll-like receptor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does the complement system consist of?

A

Circulating inactive proteins synthesised by the liver that, when stimulated, trigger a proteolytic cascade

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

What do TLRs and other PRRs do?

A

Drive cytokine production

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

What 3 pathways is the complement system activated by?

A
  • ) Classical
  • ) Alternative
  • ) Lectin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which immune system is the complement system part of?

A

Innate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the 4 main steps of the classical pathway?

A

1) C1q binds to Fc domains of IgG/IgM or to pathogens, activating C1r and C1s
2) C1s cleave C4 to C4a and C4b
3) C4b binds to C2 forming C4b2b complex
4) C4b2b is a C3 convertase and cleaves C3

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

What is the alternative pathway activated by?

A

Bacterial cell wall

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

What is the classical pathway activated by?

A

An antibody

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

What are the 5 main steps of the alternative pathway?

A

1) C3 splits to form C3b and C3a
2) C3b forms a complex with factor B forming C3bB
3) Addition of factor B forms C3bBb
4) C3bBb is a C3 convertase, and catalyses the splitting of C3 (more C3b produced, positive feedback loop)
5) Rate of C3 conversion rises above rate of deactivation of convertase, pathway activates

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

What is the lectin pathway activated by?

A

Mannose binding lectin that is bound to a microbe

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

What are the 2 main steps of the lectin pathway?

A

1) MBL binds to mannose carbohydrate on surface of pathogen

2) Then same steps as classical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Give 3 things complement activation results in

A
  • ) Increased vascular permeability
  • ) Chemoattraction of leucocytes
  • ) Enhanced phagocytosis
  • ) Enhanced lysis (releases pro inflammatory markers)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the key step in the complement system, and why?

A

Cleavage of C3

C3b mediates opsonisation

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

What is opsonisation?

A

The labelling of targets for destruction by phagocytosis

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

Give the 7 steps of an inflammatory response

A

1) Bleeding stopped by coagulation
2) Acute inflammation by leukocyte recruitment
3) Killing pathogens, neutralising toxins, limiting pathogen spread
4) Clear pathogens/dead cells by phagocytosis
5) Proliferation of cells to repair the damage
6) Remove blood clot and remodel extracellular matrix
7) Re-establish normal structure/function

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

Give 3 polymorphonuclear leukocytes

A
  • ) Neutrophil
  • ) Eosinophil
  • ) Basophil
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are neutrophils involved in?

A

Innate immunity and phagocytosis

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

What are eosinophils involved in?

A

Parasitic infections and allergic reactions

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

What are basophils involved in?

A

Parasitic infections and allergic reactions

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

Give 3 mononuclear leukocytes

A
  • ) Monocyte
  • ) T-cells
  • ) B-cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are monocytes involved in? (4)

A

Innate and adaptive immunity, phagocytosis, Ag presentation

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

What do monocytes differentiate into?

A

Macrophages

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

What are T-cells involved in?

A

Adaptive immunity

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

What do T-cells differentiate into? (3)

A

T-regs, T-helpers, cytotoxic

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

What are B-cells involved in?

A

Adaptive immunity

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

What do B-cells differentiate into?

A

Plasma cells

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

Give 3 other cells of the immune system

A
  • ) Mast cells
  • ) Natural killer cells (NK)
  • ) Dendritic cells
  • ) Macrophages
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are mast cells involved in?

A

Parasitic infections and allergic reactions

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

What do mast cells release?

A

Histamine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Where are mast cells found?

A

Only in tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What do NK cells do?

A

Recognise and kill virus infected and tumour cells by apoptosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What are macrophages involved in? (4)

A

Innate and adaptive immunity, phagocytosis, Ag presentation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is an antibody?

A

A protein produced in respond to an antigen, can only bind to that specific antigen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is an antigen?

A

A molecule that reacts with a preformed antibody and specific receptors on T cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is an epitope?

A

The part of the antigen that binds to the antibody/receptor binding site

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is affinity?

A

The measure of the binding strength between and epitope and an antibody binding site

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Give 3 features of adaptive immunity

A
  • ) Specific response
  • ) Involves memory
  • ) Cell mediated and humoral
  • ) Quicker
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What cells are against intracellular microbes?

A

T cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What cells are against extracellular microbes?

A

B cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What can T cells not recognise?

A

Antigens not bound to host cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

How is the processed antigen presented?

A

With MHC class II antigens on the APC surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What does MHC stand for?

A

Major histocompatibility complex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What does APC stand for?

A

Antigen presenting cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

What is T cell selection?

A

T cells that recognise self are killed in the foetal thymus as they mature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What are MHC antigens?

A

Cell surface glycoproteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

What do class I MHCs present on?

A

All nucleated cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

What do class II MHCs present on? (4)

A

Dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, activated T cells, macrophages (APCs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

What do class III MHCs constituent of?

A

Early complement proteins C4 and C2

54
Q

Where do T lymphocytes mature?

A

Thymus

55
Q

What do cytotoxic CD8 T cells do?

A

Destroy infected intracellular cells

56
Q

What do memory T cells do?

A

Survive after infection to respond rapidly to recurrent infections

57
Q

What do helper T cells CD4 do? (3)

A
  • ) Activate cytotoxic T cells
  • ) Activate B cell antibody production
  • ) Secrete cytokines
58
Q

What do regulatory T cells do?

A

Negatively regulate immune response preventing autoimmunity, can suppress other T cell types

59
Q

Give the 7 steps in which Th1 activation leads to stopping viral spread

A

1) APC presents an Ag with MHC II to a naive CD4 T cell
2) Stimulation with high levels of IL-12 activate naive cells to Th1 cells
3) Th1 cells go to secondary lymphoid tissue
4) Activated
5) Clonal expansion/proliferate
6) Th1 cells recognise Ag on infected cells
7) Th1 secretes INF gamma and stops virus spread

60
Q

What type of cell is CD4?

A

Helper T cell

61
Q

What type of cell is CD8?

A

Cytotoxic T cell

62
Q

Where is the secondary lymphoid tissue?

A

Spleen, lymph nodes

63
Q

When do B cells become activated?

A

When they have bound to their specific Ag

64
Q

Where do activated B cells proliferate and differentiate?

A

Lymph nodes

65
Q

What sort of antibodies/immunoglobulin do plasma cells secrete?

A

IgM

66
Q

What is class switching?

A

IgM later turn into IgG, but have the same specificity

67
Q

What are antibodies/immunoglobulins secreted by?

A

B lymphocytes

68
Q

Where do B cells mature?

A

Bone marrow

69
Q

What are the 5 main types of Ig?

A
  • ) IgG
  • ) IgM
  • ) IgA
  • ) IgD
  • ) IgE
70
Q

What is IgG involved in?

A

Important in secondary and memory response

71
Q

Which Ig can cross the placenta?

A

IgG

72
Q

What shape is IgG?

A

Y shaped

73
Q

What is IgM involved in?

A

Important in primary response, pentamer

74
Q

Where is IgG mainly found?

A

Serum and tissues

75
Q

Where is IgM mainly found?

A

Blood

76
Q

What does IgA do?

A

Protects mucosal surfaces

77
Q

What is predominant in mucous secretions?

A

Secretory IgA

78
Q

What Ig is present as an antigen specific receptor on B cells?

A

Monomeric form mIgM

79
Q

Where is IgA mainly found?

A

Serum and secretions

80
Q

What does IgD do?

A

May have a role in respiratory infection

81
Q

What Ig is present on mature B cells?

A

Transmembrane monomeric form mIgD

82
Q

What is IgE involved in?

A

Allergic and parasitic reactions

83
Q

What 2 types of inflammatory cell have a high affinity for IgE?

A

Basophils and mast cells

84
Q

Give 3 functions of an antibody

A
  • ) Opsonisation
  • ) Activation of complements
  • ) Antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity
85
Q

What is the Fab region of an antibody?

A

Variable, binds specifically to antigens

86
Q

What is the Fc region of an antibody?

A

Constant, bind to Fc receptors on cells such as phagocytes and complement proteins

87
Q

What are cytokines?

A

Proteins secreted by immune and non-immune cells

88
Q

What are the 4 main types of cytokines?

A
  • ) Inferferons
  • ) Interleukins
  • ) Colony stimulating factors
  • ) Tumour necrosis factors
89
Q

What do interferons do?

A

Induce a state of antiviral resistance in uninfected cells and limit the spread of viral infection

90
Q

What can interleukins be?

A

Pro or anti-inflammatory

91
Q

What do interleukins do?

A

Cause cells to divide, differentiate or secrete factors

92
Q

What do colony stimulating factors involved in?

A

Directing the diversion and differentiation of bone marrow stem cells

93
Q

What are colony stimulating factors the precursors of?

A

Leukocytes

94
Q

What do tumour necrosis factors do?

A

Mediate inflammation and cytotoxic reaction

95
Q

What are chemokines?

A

Chemotaxic cytokines

96
Q

What do chemokines do?

A

Direct the movement of leukocytes and other cells from the blood stream into tissues or lymph organs by binding to specific receptors on cells

97
Q

What is autoimmunity?

A

A system of immune responses of an organism against its own cells and tissues

98
Q

Give 2 causes of autoimmune disease

A
  • ) Tissue damage

- ) Disturbed functions from autoimmunity

99
Q

What does organ specific autoimmune disease usually affect?

A

Endocrine glands

100
Q

Give 2 environmental triggers for autoimmune diseases

A
  • ) Hormones
  • ) Infection
  • ) Drugs
  • ) UV radiation
101
Q

What is the recognition and elimination of cancer cells mediated by? (2)

A

T cells and NK cells

102
Q

What is cancer immunosurveillance?

A

The system that can recognise and destroy new cells

103
Q

What is cancer immunoediting?

A

When changes in the immunogenicity of tumours due to the anti-tumour response of the immune results in immune resistant variants

104
Q

What are over expressed on cancer cells?

A

Tumour associated antigens

105
Q

Where are tumour associated antigens found?

A

Normal and tumour cells

106
Q

Where are tumour specific antigens found?

A

Tumour cells

107
Q

How can tumours change immune responses?

A

By promoting immune suppressor cells, so they can be seen as self

108
Q

What are transplants crossmatched to detect?

A

Anti HLA antibodies

109
Q

What does HLA stand for?

A

Human leukocyte antigen

110
Q

What is the HLA complex?

A

A gene complex encoding the MHC proteins in humans

111
Q

What immunological cell plays a central role in rejection of a transplant?

A

CD4 T helper cells recognise the donor MHC and recruit effector cells

112
Q

Give 2 ways in which we can prevent transplant rejection

A
  • ) Tissue typing
  • ) Cross matching
  • ) Immunosuppression
113
Q

What is an allergy?

A

An abnormal response to harmful foreign material, usually involving IgE

114
Q

Give 3 clinical indications for an allergy

A
  • ) Eczema
  • ) Itching
  • ) Mucous
  • ) Airway constriction
  • ) Anaphylaxis
  • ) Vomiting
  • ) Diarrhoea
115
Q

Give 3 cells that are involved in an allergic response

A
  • ) Mast cells
  • ) Eosinophils
  • ) Lymphocytes
  • ) Macrophages
  • ) Cytokines
116
Q

What are the 4 main types of hypersensitivity reactions?

A
Type I - allergic and immediate
Type II - cytotoxic, antibody to cell bound antigen
Type III - immune complex
Type IV - delayed type
ACID
117
Q

What Ig does type I hypersensitivity involve?

A

IgE

EGGT

118
Q

What Ig does type II hypersensitivity involve?

A

IgG

EGGT

119
Q

What Ig does type III hypersensitivity involve?

A

IgG

EGGT

120
Q

What cell does type IV hypersensitivity involve?

A

T cells

EGGT

121
Q

Give an example of a type I hypersensitivity reaction

A

Peanut allergy, latex, bee venom, antibiotics

122
Q

How does type I hypersensitivity occur?

A

Binding of antigen by IgE on mast cells/basophils releases preformed mediators

123
Q

Give an example of a type II hypersensitivity reaction

A

Drugs, haemolytic anaemia

124
Q

How does type II hypersensitivity occur?

A

Cell destruction caused by activation of complement system and promotion of phagocytosis, body’s own cells attacked

125
Q

Give an example of a type III hypersensitivity reaction

A

RA, glomerulonephritis, Goodpasture’s

126
Q

How does type III hypersensitivity occur?

A

Deposition of IgG containing immune complexes, especially in joints and kidneys

127
Q

Give an example of a type IV hypersensitivity reaction

A

DM, MS, Crohn’s, contact dermatitis

128
Q

How does type IV hypersensitivity occur?

A

Local inflammation occurs after days, granulation tissues delay response

129
Q

What does immunodeficiency present as?

A

Serious persistent, unusual or recurrent infections

130
Q

How do we treat immunodeficiency?

A

Bone marrow transplant

131
Q

Give 3 causes of immunodeficiency

A
  • ) Antibody deficiency
  • ) Cellular immunity deficient
  • ) Phagocytic/complement defects
  • ) Genetic (primary)
132
Q

What does C3b go on to form?

A

Membrane attack complex