Immunology and Healthcare Theme 1 Flashcards
what is immunology
the study of the body’s defence against infection- allow tolerance of pathogenic infections
what is the importance of immunology
Infections including oral infections are common in individual as they are epidemics of infectious disease. E.g influenza
There are a wide range of clinical conditions (including those with oral manifestations) associated with immune dysfunction.
Rational diagnosis and therapy of disease relies on the understanding of pathogenesis
Vaccination as a key healthcare strategy for both individuals and population
Population disease experience is dynamic
what is the involvement of immunology in gingivitis and periodontitis
Gingivitis- driven by plaque microbiome, presented by acute inflammation. Inflammation Is when the immune system is facing a challenge, redness and swelling.
Periodontitis- chronic associated with tissue destruction. Alveolar bone receded.
what are the symptoms and of inflammation
Symptoms: pain, redness, swelling (increased blood flow) , heat and loss of function.
Causes: chronic infection, autoimmune, hypersensitivity (environmental stimulus), metabolic disorders and immunodeficiency (age and genetic factors).
what is necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (NUG)
Microbial disease (mixed bacterial infection) of the gingiva in the context of an impaired host response
Associated with stress, smoking, HIV & nutritional deficiency
Ulcer- loss of epithelium due to acute infection.
Very painful
Treatment:
- Plaque control (Chlorhexidine, ultrasonics or OHI)
- Metronidazole
what is sjogren’s disease
Autoimmune disease of salivary gland
Inflammation of salivary glands
Infiltration of white blood cells
Swelling in the salivary glands- should be distinguished from abscesses (common) and glandular fever (less common).
what is involved in the pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate matrix
Diagnosis and therapy rely on understanding the disorder
The ways in which the immune system works. Can stimulate periodontal cells to cause tissue destruction.
Inflammation brings more blood to the region which is good, but in the chronic state the gingival fibroblasts will make MMPs which destroys proteins such as collagen.
Typically this is what a fibroblast does, but when over stimulated the balance tips towards disease.
IL-1 isn’t the only molecule that will stimulate MMP
- E.g . Leptin (present in the inflammatory state)
why is the number of reported cases lower than estimated actual cases
because it is possible to have the virus but not have the actual disease. Asymptomatic.
what are the main functions of the immune system
- Recognition of non-self microbes & viruses
- Effector function (contain/eradicate infection)
- Regulation (appropriate and measured response) -prevent inappropriate immune responses such as chronic inflammation or hypersensitivity
- Memory - immediate and stronger response on second exposure.
what are the features of innate immunity
all multicellular organisms have this. Enhanced by adaptive.
•Rapid response
•Fixed response (rate/intensity always similar)
•Limited number of specificities
•Constant during response
Innate immunity will activate adaptive immunity
Innate will reinforce adaptive -integrated response (i.e. complement system)
what are the features of
Adaptive immunity
- Slow immunity (days to weeks)- requires several cell to cell interactions and processes
- Variable response due to antigen specificity- immune reponse to any macromolecule. It can change and develop.
- Numerous highly selective specificities
- Improve during diagnosis
- Antigen specific, targeted, effective response
what are the innate immunity effector mechanisms and signs and symptoms of this
immediate defenses
- physical, chemical, and microbiological barriers
- complement
- phagocytosis
no signs and symptoms: natural homeostatic function
what are the adaptive immunity effector mechanisms and signs and symptoms of this
Induced defenses:
- cytokines and chemotaxis
- interferon response
- antibodies
- cell mediated immunity
- memory
what can malfunction of the immune response lead to
e.g. persistent or inappropriate inflammation
analysis and manipulation of the immune repsonse are health care strategies
what can cytokines do
induce chemotaxis and an interferon response (cytokine involved in viral infections)
how is the skin a physical barrier to infection
external body surfaces
- keratin-dry barrier to infection
- thick
- cell-cell junctions
- low pH inhibits microbial growth
- lactic acid from sweat glands lowers pH
- fatty acids from sebaceous glands lowers pH
what are the external bod surfaces that are barriers ti infection
skin
nails (keratin)
ducts (fluid flow)
how do bacteria enter when we have a burn
acute infection and serious inflammation. Burns remove epithelium, expose tissue, bacteria gets in, moist surface, vascular damage e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
how do bacteria enter when we have curs/surgery
Staphylococcus aureus (normally on skin, however will penetrate the dermis)
what occurs in acne
infected sebaceous gland ducts/hair follicles- blocked glands
how are the Mucosal surfaces susceptible to infection
airways, GI tract etc, no keratin- epithelial tissue very susceptible to infection.
outline the mucosal defence system
- Mucin = highly glycosylated protein
- Mucin (protein secreted by glands in the epithelium-) + water = mucous
- Secreted by goblet cells
- Ciliated epithelium in airways which traps bacteria/particles
- Cells destroyed by smoking/tobacco or in CF- mucous dysfunctional, particles clogging up trachea and lungs
- Airways infected due to loss of innate immunity
how are the Internal body surfaces (mucosal surfaces) barriers to infection
- Large surface area
- No keratin
- Mucins (form mucus with water): coat microorganisms preventing attachment
- Ciliated epithelium (protection and ejection of large particles)
- Flow of air and fluid
how is saliva a barrier to infection
- Lysozyme: digests bacterial cell walls
* Lactoferrin: removed iron required by bacteria