Immunology Flashcards
What is innate immunity?
An immune response that is present from birth
Give 3 features of an innate immune response
- ) Immediate
- ) Non-specific
- ) Slow
- ) No memory
What does PAMP stand for, and where is it found?
Pathogen associated molecular patterns, on microbe
What does PRR stand for, and where is it found?
Pattern recognition receptors, on cells
How is the innate immune system activated?
Activated by PRRs on dendritic cells recognising conserved PAMPs on microbes and triggering a response
What does TLR stand for?
Toll-like receptor
What does the complement system consist of?
Circulating inactive proteins synthesised by the liver that, when stimulated, trigger a proteolytic cascade
What do TLRs and other PRRs do?
Drive cytokine production
What 3 pathways is the complement system activated by?
- ) Classical
- ) Alternative
- ) Lectin
Which immune system is the complement system part of?
Innate
What are the 4 main steps of the classical pathway?
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
What is the alternative pathway activated by?
Bacterial cell wall
What is the classical pathway activated by?
An antibody
What are the 5 main steps of the alternative pathway?
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
What is the lectin pathway activated by?
Mannose binding lectin that is bound to a microbe
What are the 2 main steps of the lectin pathway?
1) MBL binds to mannose carbohydrate on surface of pathogen
2) Then same steps as classical
Give 3 things complement activation results in
- ) Increased vascular permeability
- ) Chemoattraction of leucocytes
- ) Enhanced phagocytosis
- ) Enhanced lysis (releases pro inflammatory markers)
What is the key step in the complement system, and why?
Cleavage of C3
C3b mediates opsonisation
What is opsonisation?
The labelling of targets for destruction by phagocytosis
Give the 7 steps of an inflammatory response
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
Give 3 polymorphonuclear leukocytes
- ) Neutrophil
- ) Eosinophil
- ) Basophil
What are neutrophils involved in?
Innate immunity and phagocytosis
What are eosinophils involved in?
Parasitic infections and allergic reactions
What are basophils involved in?
Parasitic infections and allergic reactions
Give 3 mononuclear leukocytes
- ) Monocyte
- ) T-cells
- ) B-cells
What are monocytes involved in? (4)
Innate and adaptive immunity, phagocytosis, Ag presentation
What do monocytes differentiate into?
Macrophages
What are T-cells involved in?
Adaptive immunity
What do T-cells differentiate into? (3)
T-regs, T-helpers, cytotoxic
What are B-cells involved in?
Adaptive immunity
What do B-cells differentiate into?
Plasma cells
Give 3 other cells of the immune system
- ) Mast cells
- ) Natural killer cells (NK)
- ) Dendritic cells
- ) Macrophages
What are mast cells involved in?
Parasitic infections and allergic reactions
What do mast cells release?
Histamine
Where are mast cells found?
Only in tissues
What do NK cells do?
Recognise and kill virus infected and tumour cells by apoptosis
What are macrophages involved in? (4)
Innate and adaptive immunity, phagocytosis, Ag presentation
What is an antibody?
A protein produced in respond to an antigen, can only bind to that specific antigen
What is an antigen?
A molecule that reacts with a preformed antibody and specific receptors on T cells
What is an epitope?
The part of the antigen that binds to the antibody/receptor binding site
What is affinity?
The measure of the binding strength between and epitope and an antibody binding site
Give 3 features of adaptive immunity
- ) Specific response
- ) Involves memory
- ) Cell mediated and humoral
- ) Quicker
What cells are against intracellular microbes?
T cells
What cells are against extracellular microbes?
B cells
What can T cells not recognise?
Antigens not bound to host cells
How is the processed antigen presented?
With MHC class II antigens on the APC surface
What does MHC stand for?
Major histocompatibility complex
What does APC stand for?
Antigen presenting cell
What is T cell selection?
T cells that recognise self are killed in the foetal thymus as they mature
What are MHC antigens?
Cell surface glycoproteins
What do class I MHCs present on?
All nucleated cells
What do class II MHCs present on? (4)
Dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, activated T cells, macrophages (APCs)