Immunology Basics Flashcards
What are pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)?
characteristic structural molecules pf invading microbes which are recognized by the innate immune system
What are damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) or alarmins?
characteristic molecules released by damaged cells which are recognized by the innate immune system
- can be released when cells die (intracellular)
- can be caused when connective tissue is damaged (extracellular)
- can be released by stimulated sentinel cells
What is the memory of the innate immune system?
minimal
each infection is treated similarly no matter how many times an invader is encountered
Which are cytokines are considered the most important for initiating and mediating innate responses and inflammation?
IL-1
IL-6
IL-8
TNF-a (most potent inducer of inflammation)
What are the components of cellular innate immunity?
Sentinel cells
- Macrophages
- Mast cells
- Dendritic cells
- Neutrophils (not always considered one)
Non-specific leukocytes
- Macrophages
- Neutrophils
- Lymphoid cells (NK)
- Basophils
- Eosinophils
What are the components of the humoral innate immune response?
Complement system
Natural antibodies
Acute-phase proteins
Antimicrobial peptides
Soluble lectins
What is innate immunity?
early, rapid response to block invasion and minimize tissue damage
- primarily within minutes to hours of exposure
generic response to common structures with no memory
sentinel cells detect then recruit other cells
- helps direct later adaptive immune response
main process by which invading microbes are destroyed
What is the potency of the innate immune system?
It can be overwhelmed (whereas the adaptive is rarely overwhelmed)
What do PAMPs and DAMPs bind to?
Preformed pattern recognition receptors (PRRs)
- mostly on cell membranes, cytosol, or in cytoplasmic vesicles
- some are soluble and in blood
What are the PAMPs associated with gram positive bacteria?
peptidoglycans and lipoteichoic acid in their walls
(CD14, PGRPs, NOD1)
What are the PAMPs associated with gram negative bacteria?
lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans in their walls
(CD14, TLR4)
What are the PAMPs associated with acid-fast bacteria?
the glycolipids covering them
(CD1, TLR4, NOD)
What are the PAMPs associated with yeast?
mannan or b-glucan in their walls
What happens when PRRs are activated
Cytokines are released –> recruits more WBCs, activates adaptive immunity
Changes to blood flow –> more emigration of WBCs –> kill invader
Activate anti-microbial molecules –> kill invader
What are the soluble PRRs?
Collectins
Ficolins
Complement
Pentraxins
What are the PRRs found within vesicles (endosome)?
TLR 3, 7, 8, 9
What are the cytoplasmic PRRs?
Rig-1
NOD-like
Peptidoglycan receptors
DNA receptors
What are the membrane-bound PRRs?
TLR 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Lectins
Mannose receptor
Langerin
Dectins
Integrins
Scavenger receptors
What are Toll-like receptors?
Most significant family of PRRs
Mammals have 10-12 of them
Can be on neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, dendritic cells, epithelial cells, and T/B cells and, as a rule, are present:
- cell membranes for bacteria/fungus/parasites
- inside the cells for viruses
Also found in bone marrow
What type of receptor is a Toll-like receptor?
A transmembrane glycoprotein
- most are homodimers but can form heterodimers
- can form chain pairs so can bind almost all known PAMPs
What happens when a bacterial PAMP binds to a TLR?
Activate MyD88 –> activate NF-kB and IRF3 –> gene activation
*in all except TLR3 which does the TRIF pathway
What activates the inactive precursors to cytokines?
Caspase-1 (triggered by the inflammasome)
Where is TLR 1 and what does it do?
Location: cell surface
Ligand: lipoprotein
Pathogen recognized: bacteria (all kinds)
Where is TLR 2 and what does it do?
Location: cell surface
Ligand: lipoprotein
Pathogen recognized: bacteria (esp G+), viruses, and parasites
* ex for Demodex
* very important!