Immunology of reproduction

Question 1

why is it easier for the reproductive tract to get an infection

Answer 1

• it is connected to the exterior of the body

Question 2

Why must the reproductive system be sterile?

Answer 2

necessary for proper function

Question 3

what are the types of immune responses/systems for the reproductive tract?

Answer 3

• physical barrier (cervix, mucus, pH)
• Phagocytes (neutrophils, macrophages)
• B lymphocytes (antibodies)
• T lymphocytes (infected host bacteria)

Question 4

What is involved in the innate immune system?

Answer 4

• macrophages, neutrophils, natural-killer cells
• foreign bodies, antibody coat, complement
• absence of class I MNC

Question 5

What is involved in an acquired immune system?

Answer 5

• B and T lymphocytes
• Immunoglobulin receptor or T cell receptor
• Cell mediated and humoral response
• memory

Question 6

What are three types of phagocytes?

Answer 6

• macrophage
• dendritic cell
• neutrophil

Question 7

What are 5 types of lymphocytes?

Answer 7

• B lymphocytes
• Th1 T helper lymphocytes
• Th2 T helper lymphocytes
• cytotoxic T lymphocyte
• Gamma-delta T lymphocyte

Question 8

What do macrophages do?

Answer 8

phagocytosis; antigen presentation

Question 9

What do dendritic cells do?

Answer 9

endocytosis and phagocytosis; antigen presentation

Question 10

What do neutrophils do?

Answer 10

phagocytosis

Question 11

what do B lymphocytes do?

Answer 11

secretion of antibody; antigen presentation

Question 12

what do Th1 T helper lymphocytes do?

Answer 12

secretion of cytokines that stimulate macrophages and cytotoxic T cells

Question 13

what do Th2 T helper lymphocytes do?

Answer 13

secretion of cytokines that stimulate B cells and antibody responses

Question 14

what do cytotoxic T lymphocytes do?

Answer 14

lysis of target cells

Question 15

What do Gamma-delta T lymphocytes do?

Answer 15

lysis of target cells; secretion of cytokines and growth factor

Question 16

what are the components of the immune system in the reproductive tract?

Answer 16

• vagina (bacterial flora)
• Cervix (lactoferrin + mucus/plug)
• Leukocytes (T and B cells, NK, neutrophils, macrophages + inflammation, vasodilation, vascular permeability)
• Lymphatic system (Drainage)

Question 17

How is the immune system regulated?

Answer 17

• ovarian steroid hormones
• regulatory molecules in seminal plasma (male)
• autocrine and paracrine factors from the uterus and conceptus

Question 18

What ovarian hormones regulate the immune system?

Answer 18

estrogen and progesterone

Question 19

What are the immuno-regulatory molecules in seminal plasma?

Answer 19

• sperm antigenicity

- neutrophil mediated

Question 20

What do autocrine and paracrine factors from the uterus and conceptus do?

Answer 20

maintains conceptus

Question 21

What is a more immune responsive state? estrus or diestrus?

Answer 21

estrus

Question 22

What is a pregnancy mediated response?

Answer 22

mechanisms that prevent the destruction of the fetus by a suppression or attenuation of the immune response

Question 23

What contributes to the attenuation of the immune response?

Answer 23

conceptus and maternal factors

Question 24

How is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) regulated for antigens on the trophoblast

Answer 24

• MHC class 1 presented by most cells is turned off in the outer layers of the trophoblast (contact with endometrium epithelium)

Question 25

How is immunosuppresion regulated?

Answer 25

• progesterone
• TGF-beta, PGE
• Interferon-tau
• Reduction in lymphocytes numbers

Question 26

What does immunosuppression do?

Answer 26

placental and maternal tissues produce molecules that prevent generation of maternal anticonceptus lymphocytes