Immunology Flashcards
Lymph node
Follicle= B-cells
- Primary: dense, dormant
- Secondary: pale, active
Medulla=
- Cords: lymphocytes and plasma cells
- Sinuses: reticular cells and macrophages; communicate with efferent lymphatics
Paracortex= T cells (between follicles and medulla)
- Endothelial venules: B-cell entry from blood
- Underdeveloped in DiGeorge syndrome
Lymph drainage
Rectum (above pectinate line): internal iliac
Anal canal (below pectinate line): superficial inguinal
Right lymphatic duct: drains right arm, right chest, right 1/2 of face
- Thoracic duct drains everything else
Sinusoids of spleen
Vascular channels in red pulp
- Fenestrated; macrophages nearby
White Pulp:
- T cells= periarterial lymphatic sheath (PALS)
- B cells= follicles
Macrophages remove encapsulated bacteria (IgM–> complement–> C3b opsonization–> macrophage removal)
- Strep pnumo, H. flu, N. meningitidis, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Strep agalactaciae (group B)
Post-splenectomy:
- Howell-Jolly Bodies (nuclear remnants in RBCs)
- Target cells (excess membrane: hemeglobin ratio)
- Thrombocytosis
Thymus
Epithelium of 3rd branchial pouches
Cortex= dense, immature T cells - Positive selection (MHC class restriction: T cells expressing TCRs binding self MHC)
Medulla= pale, mature T cells, Hassall’s corpuscles
- Negative selection (non-reactive to self antigens: high affinity for self–> apoptosis)
Innate immunity
Neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, complement
Adaptive immunity
Recognize pathogen–> V(D)J recombination
- Slow response at first, memory faster
- T cells, B cells, circulating antibody
MHC I
HLA-A, B, C
- Nucleated cell (any) infected with antigen
- Processed in RER (+ intracell peptides)
- Presented on MHC-I + Beta-2 microglob
- Binds TCR, CD8 T-cells
** Mediates viral immunity
MHC II
HLA-DR, HLA-DP, HLA-DQ
- Antigen presenting cell infected
- Antigen processed in acidic endosome
- Presented on MHC-II (peptide binding groove)
- Binds TCR, CD4 T-cells
HLA-A3
Hemochromatosis
HLA-B27
Psoriasis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Reiter’s syndrome
HLA-DQ2/DQ8
Celiac disease
HLA-DR2
Multiple sclerosis
Hay fever
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
Goodpasture’s disease
HLA-DR3
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Grave’s disease
HLA-DR5
Pernicious anemia–> B12 deficiency
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Natural killer cells
Induce apoptosis of virally infected + tumor cells
- Only lymphocyte in innate immune system
Enhanced by IL-2, IL-12, IFN-beta, IFN-alpha
Kills target cell with:
- Nonspecific activation signal
- Absence of class I MHC
B-cell produced antibody functions
Type I hypersensitvity reaction: IgE produced (Allergy)
Type II reaction: IgG, IgM (Cytotoxic)
Type III reaction: IgG (immune complex)
** Hyperacute, humorally mediated acute/chronic organ rejection
T-cell functions
Type IV delayed cell-mediated hypersensitivity
CD4+ T cells= help B cell antibody production, make cytokines
- IL-12–> Th1 cell
- IL-4–> Th2 cell
CD8+ T-cells= Cytotoxic t-cells: kill VIRUS infected cells, neoplastic, donor graft cells. Secretes granules that contain:
- perforin (deliver granules into target cell)
- granzyme (serine protease= activates apoptosis in target cell)
- Granulysin (antimicrobial, induces apoptosis)
Regulatory T-cell (Treg)
- Express CD3, CD4, CD25 (alpha chain of IL-2 receptor)
- Activated–> anti-inflammatory IL-10, TGF-beta
Dendrite cell
ONLY APC that can activate naive T-cell
- Phagocytoses foreign body
- Presented on MHC II–> Th (CD4+ cell) OR Presented on MHC I–> Cytotoxic (CD8+)
- Costimulation: B7 on dendrite–> CD28 on Naive T-cell
B cell activation/class switching
Th1 or Th2 (helper CD4+ T-cell) activated
- B-cell endocytosis foreign antigen
- Antigen presented on MHC II–> recognized by TCR on Th cell
- CD 40 on B-cell binds CD40Ligand on Th cell
- Th cell secretes cytokines–> Ig class switching of B cell
- B cell matures, produces antibodies
- Mature B cells= IgM and IgD on surface
- Differentiate into plasma cells secreting IgA, IgE, IgG
B-cell receptors:
- Ig (duh)
- CD19, CD20, CD21 (EBV receptor), CD40, MHC II, B7
Th1 cell
Helper T-cell
- Secretes IFN-gamma
- Activates macrophages
- Inhibited by IL-4, IL-10 (from Th2 cell)
Th2 cell
Helper T-cell
- Secretes IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13
- Recruits eosinophils for Parasite defense, promotes B-cell production of IgE
- Inihibited by IFN-gamma (from Th1 cell)
Antibody structure
Fab= Antigen binding fragment
- Only 1 antigenic specificity per B cell
Fc=
- Constant
- Carboxy terminal
- Complement binding at CH2
- Carbohydrate side chains
- (Macrophage binds at CH3)
Diversity: Random, or somatic hypermutation after antigen stimulation
Role of Abs:
- Opsonization
- Neutralization: prevent bacterial adherence
- Complement activation: enhanced opsonization
IgG
Secondary response (delayed) Most abundant
Roles:
- Fixes complement
- Crosses placenta
- Opsonizes bacteria
- Neutralizes toxins, viruses
IgA
Prevents bacterial/viral attachment to mucous membranes
Roles:
- Does NOT fix complement
- Does NOT cross placenta
- Circulation= monomer
- Secretion= dimer; crosses epithelial cells via trancystosis, picks up secretory component in epithelial cells
IgM
Primary response (immediate)
Roles:
- Fixes complement
- Does NOT cross placenta
- Monomer (on B cell) or Pentamer
IgE
Type I hypersensitivity reaction
Roles:
- Binds Mast cells/basophils
- Cross-links when exposed to allergen
- Releases histamine from mast cells
- Activates eosinophil reaction to worms
Antigen type and memory (thymus dependent vs independent)
Independent: antigen LACKS peptide component
- Cannot be presented by MHC (no peptide to present to T-cells)
- Ex: LPS from gram-neg bacteria, polysaccharide capsule
- NO immunologic memory
Dependent:
- Antigens contain protein component
- Ex: Diphtheria toxoid vaccine
- Class switching and memory due to B-cell Th cell CD40-CD40L interaction
Complement pathway
Leads to formation of MAC (membrane attack complex) to defend against gram NEGATIVE bateria
Activation:
- Classic= IgG/IgM mediated
- Alternative= microbe surface molecules (attract C3b)
- Lectin= mannose/sugars on microbe
C3b= opsonization, clears immune complexes
C3a, C5a= anaphylaxis
C5a= neutrophil chemotaxis
C5b-C9= MAC formation–> cytolysis
** Pathway inhibited (from attacking self) by Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and C1 esterase inhibitor
C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency
Hereditary angioedema
- ACE-I contraindicated
C3 deficiency
Recurrent pyogenic sinus, resp tract infections
- Increased susceptibility to Type-III hypersensitvity reactions (immune complex)
C5-C9 deficiencies
Recurrent Neisseria bacteremia
DAF deficiency
Complement-mediated lysis of RBCs
- Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria