Immunology Exam One Flashcards
Stages of Immunity
Innate and Adaptive
Innate Immunity
First line of defense that is non-specific and responds rapidly to infections
Clears out dead tissue and initiates the repair of damaged tissue
Exists since birth
Receptors are located in plasma membrane, endosomal membrane, cytosol
Adaptive Immunity
Exists before infection occurs and a slower response to infection because the response depends on signals from the innate immune system
Is specific and activation leads to memory clonal expansion and cellular differentiation
Receptors only located in plasma membrane
Components of Innate Immunity
Barriers such as skin (Lysozymes, collectins and fatty acids), mucous membranes and stomach acids
Cells and plasma membranes
Components of Adaptive Immunity
B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
They make immune memory
Types of cell and plasma proteins of innate immunity
Acute phase proteins, complement, phagocytic cells, interferon, natural killer (NK) cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC’s)
Alert Adaptive Immunity components
B lymphocytes
Humoral response
Make anti-bodies and comes from bone marrow
Binds to foreign antigen, activates and undergoes clonal expansion and differentiation
Becomes effector cells-activate plasma cells that produce antibodies or memory B cells.
T lymphocytes
Cell mediated response
Makes helper and cytotoxic cells and is from the thymus
Types of T lymphocytes
T-helper
T-cytotoxic
T-regulatory (formerly T-suppressor)
T-helper
Activate humoral response
Activate into T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells
Cytokine-producers that activate destruction of microbes within phagocytes, and “call in” more phagocytes to the area of infection
The cytokine activated phagocytes kill ingested microbes
Have CD4+ cells on surface
T-cytotoxic
Activate into effector cells or memory cells
Kill the host cell, along with the intracellular microbes
Have CD8+ cells on surface
T-regulatory (formerly T-suppressor)
Work to suppress activity if previously activated B or T lymphocytes
Types of adaptive immunity
Humoral and Cell-mediated
Humoral adaptive immunity
Mediated by antibodies made by B lymphocytes
Circulate through the lymphatic system
Antibodies bind extracellular microbes to neutralize toxins, prevent infection of tissues and enhance uptake by phagocytic cells
T cell-B cell interactions
Cell-mediated adaptive immunity
Mediated by T-lymphocytes
Defends against intracellular microbes
Has Helper T lymphocytes and cytotoxic T lymphocytes
Active Immunity
Exposure to antigen through active infection which is then eradicated
Individual goes from naive to immune to the microbe
Passive Immunity
No exogenous exposure of antigen with no active infection
Antibodies are transferred from immunized individual or administered using laboratory manufactured infusions
Naturally occurs in newborns from their mothers
Clonal expansion
When several like lymphocytes bind like antigens and that “clone” of lymphocytes proliferate
Properties of adaptive immune responses
Memory: Primary Immune Response and Secondary Immune Response
Nonreactivity to self: Immunologic tolerance. It is designed to react against foreign agents and return to homeostasis when infection is resolved
Immunologic tolerance
the presence of self antigens is tolerated by the immune system
Write out clonal selection (Expansion/Differentiation)
Good Job!
Hematopoiesis
The production of blood cells in the bone marrow of flat bones, in adults
Myeloid
Phagocytes and Antigen-presenting cells
Lymphoid
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes
Only cells that produce clonally distributed receptors specific for diverse antigens.
Mediator of adaptive immunity
They are all morphologically the same but serve different functions, lineage and phenotype
Are distinguished based on surface molecules
Cluster of Differentiation (CD)
Molecules on the surface of lymphocytes which identify the lymphocytes function
How do lymphocytes mature? How are they distributed?
- Begin as lymphoid precursor cells in bone marrow. B lymphocytes mature in bone marrow and T lymphocytes mature in the thymus
- Stay in the generative (central/primary) lymphoid organs where they were created.
- Move to secondary (peripheral) lymphoid organs where the immune action happens
Stages of life for Effector B cells
- Naive lymphocytes
- Effector B cells make antibodies and the memory cells are inactive until the specific antigen is encountered in the future
Stages of life for CD4+ (T helper cells)
- Naive lymphocytes
- Helper T cells produce cytokines and the memory cells are inactive until the specific antigen is encountered in the future
Stages of life for CD8+ (T cytotoxic cells)
- Naive lymphocytes
- Are equipped to kill infected host cells and die after they attack. The memory cells are inactive until the specific antigen is encountered in the future
Cytokines
Initiate cellular reactions in innate immunity
Secreted by dendritic cells, MPs, mast cells, ILCs, etc
Are soluble proteins which mediate immune and inflammatory reactions
Are responsible for communication between leukocytes and other cells
Called interleukins + a number or a name associated with how they were discovered
Antigen-presenting cells
Are in potential entry sites for microbes such as the skin, genitourinary tract, respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract
They capture the antigens of the microbes and being them to a secondary lymphoid organ to present them to lymphocytes.
Dendritic cells
Most specialized antigen-presenting cells in immune system
Shows antigens on infections on its surface to show other lymphocytes.
Tissues of the immune system
Primary/Generative and Secondary/Peripheral
Primary/Generative tissues
Bone marrow and thymus sites of lymphocyte production and maturation
Secondary (Peripheral)
Lymph nodes, spleen, mucosal and cutaneous immune systems
Arranged in such a way as to concentrate antigens where there is a high number of lymphocytes present. Cells that need each other for activation also “hangout” together in the same general area
Lymph Nodes
Encapsulated nodular aggregated of lymphoid tissue located along lymphatic channels throughout the body
Antigens flow through nodes via lymphatic fluid
What happens to antigens which flow through nodes via lymphatic fliud?
They are captured by antigen presenting cells or they are transported by dendritic cells and become concentrated in nodes
Lymph
Fluid that leaks out of epithelia, connective tissues, and parenchymal organs, via blood vessels
Vascular system
moves by means of pressure gradients via skeletal muscle movement, respiratory movement and contraction of smooth muscle in vessel walls
One-way valves in vessels keep lymphatic fluid moving in the right direction
Cortex
Contains follicles-B cells
Germinal center-B cells beginning activation
Paracortex
Interior to cortex-T cells
Medulla
Innermost area of node-plasma cells and activated cells ready to exist
Spleen
Highly vascularized abdominal organ
Functions similar to lymph nodes, only blood carriers antigens/cells
blood flows through sinusoids
Antigens captured by dendritic cells/MPs
Phagocytes ingest and destroy
MP’s also destroy old, irregularly shaped RBCs, or RBCs with inclusions
red pulp in spleen
RBC’s and MP’s
white pulp in spleen
B + T cells
Mucosal Immune system
GI and respiratory tracts, tonsils and Peyer’s patches in intestine
Has memory cells that transport antigens
Has dendritic cells that bind and present to helper T cells which present to B cells which activate into plasma cells and secrete IgA
Combo of innate and adaptive immune system
M cell
Specialized to transport antigens from lumen to the lymphoid tissue underneath
goblet cells
produce mucus to attract microbes and antigens
Paneth cells
secrete antimicrobial peptides
innate immune system
Cutaneous Immune system (skin)
Collection of lymphoid tissues and APC’s in and under the epithelia of the skin because of the large surface area
No anatomically defined structures
Main players are keratinocytes, Langerhans cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes
Mast cells
release histamines
Inflammatory response
Langerhans cell
specialized dendritic cells. APC’s.
High endothelial venules (HEVs)
In paracomplex of lymph nodes
Specialized post-capillary venules
T-cells attracted by chemokines
Activated by antigen presented by dendritic cell
Leave node and migrate to site of infection
What happens when lymphocytes are activated?
Turn into effector cells
migrate to site of infection
What B cell does
Stay in the lymph node when activated and secrete antibodies into circulation
Rarely will see these plasma cells in circulation. If there are many that could be a sign of leukemia or another disease.
Major histocompatibility can lead to
T cell activation or HLA human leukocyte antigen which occurs in the transplantation of organs
MHC 2 Complex
Binds to the peptide chain from the invader and presents it on the surface of the phagocyte/APC.
Allows Adaptive immunity to come in.
Types of phagocytes
Are all white blood cells/leukocytes
Neutrophils, Macrophages, dendritic cells
Neutrophils
fast and abundant
Macrophages
Heavy lifting
Dendrite
Best activators of specific immune system
Nonspecific
Barriers of first line defense
Inflammatory
Phagocytes
Specific Immune system
adaptive
lymphocytes
Lymphocytes
type of leukocyte
specific
B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
epitope
part of the pathogen that binds to our variable sequencing.
After it binds, the B cell is activated. B cell sometimes needs help being activated with helper T cells as well.
Pathogen is engulfed by B cell to make memory or plasma B cells.
MHC I complex
Majority of presenting cells
Main types of innate immune system reaction
Inflammation and Antiviral Defense
Inflammation
Accumulation and activation of leukocytes and plasma proteins at sites of infection or tissue injury
Antiviral Defense
Mediated by Natural Killer cells and Type I Interferons
Natural Killer Cell (NK)
Leukocytes which kill virally infected cells and cancer cells.
Are lymphocytes
Respond to IL-12 and secrete IFN-gamma to activate killing mechanism of MPs
Can destroy pathogens without prior exposure to pathogens
Receptors in the NK cell activate (No MHC-1 receptor or low amount to bind to on cells) or inhibit (MHC-1 receptor on other cells) it from killing cells it is scanning
Releases perforin which opens the target cells
Releases granzymes which goes into the opening and kills the cell
Type I Interferons (IFNs)
Shields from viral infection, are antiproliferative and elicit immunomodulatory responses by binding to the type I interferon receptor.
Interferons
Type of cytokine that possesses antiviral, antiproliferative and antitumor attributes. Plays roles in the innate and adaptive immune responses.
Have been classified into two types based on interactions with IFN receptor subunits, peptide mapping and sequencing homology.
Minor variation in their primary sequences of the IFNA genes cause distinct antiviral and immunoregulatory functions in T cells, B cells and dendritic cells.
Where are NK cells located?
Develop in bone marrow, move to other lymphatic system organs and tissues (lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils and thymus).
Mature NK cells go into the bloodstream, the lungs, the liver, lymph tissues and lymphatic system associated organs.
PAMPs
Pathogen associated molecular patterns
ex. phagocytes-receptors for bacterial endotoxins
Attach to toll-like receptors
Cytokines
general category
function in communication, initiation of inflammation and general immune response
Chemokines
Subset of cytokine
communication among leukocytes
lymph nodes are where they exist
Difference between natural killer cells and cytotoxic cells?
NK cells attack any cell that is scanned as a threat and are part of the innate immune system. Are the first line of defense and act quickly (~three days after infection)
Cytotoxic T-cells can only attack cells it has encountered before because it is part of the adaptive immune system which therefore means it identifies the pathogen and sends a specialized attack. Takes a week after infection to send the correct T-cell.
Damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)
Molecules released from damaged or necrotic host cells.
Response to DAMPs works to eliminate damaged tissue and initiate repair via macrophages.
Ex. Extracellular ATP
cellular receptors for damaged cells and microbes
Pattern receptors detect microbes and damaged cells which are expressed on phagocytes, dendritic cells, epithelial cells and more
Located in different cellular compartments where microbes or their products can be found
Five major families of cellular receptors
TLR’s, C-type lectin receptors, NOD like receptors, RIG-like receptors and cytosolic DNA sensors
Toll-like receptors (TLR’s)
10 different types in humans
Dimerize to form 9 different functional receptors, specific for different components of microbes. Ex. bacterial or viral molecules
Have ligand binding domain and a toll-like interleukin receptor
Signals made by TLR’s activate transcription factors which stimulate expression of cytokines and other proteins involved in the inflammatory or antiviral response and in antimicrobial functions of activated phagocytes and other cells
NF-kB-transcription factor activated by TLR signals
Promotes expression of interferon-regulatory factors (IRF’s)
MD2
Enhances binding to LPS
What happens when there is a mutation in a TLR receptor?
autoimmune diseases
NF-kB-transcription factor
Nuclear factor kappa-beta transcription factor
Promotes cytokines and adhesion molecules
Acute inflammation and stimulation of adaptive immunity
IRFs
Regulate transcription of interferons
Antiviral response
Pathogen is identified by the TLRs and the pathways P’s IRFs with IRF kinases
The IRFs go to the DNA and start transcription of type I IFN’s
multiple IRFs (IRF1, IRF2, IRF4, and IRF8) play essential roles in the development of immune cells, including dendritic, myeloid, natural killer (NK), B, and T cells
IRF1 and IRF5
Induce production of proinflammatory cytokines