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Principles 2018 > Immunology Part 1 > Flashcards

Immunology Part 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Give a general definition of the immune system?

A

A network of specialised cells, tissues and soluble factors that co-operate to kill and eliminate disease-causing pathogens and cancer cells

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2
Q

What are the key features of the immune system?

A
  • Able to specifically identify and respond to ‘non-self’ or ‘abnormal self’
  • e.g. pathogens, cancer cells, infected cells and other ‘danger’ signals
  • Able to modify the response to deal with different types of pathogens in the most efficient way possible
  • Able to actively promote tissue repair & healing
  • Able to remember any pathogens it encounters (Immunological Memory)
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3
Q

Where do viruses replicate?

A

Inside cells

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4
Q

Where are most bacteria located?

A

Most are extracellular some are intracellular

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5
Q

What issue does parasite infection cause?

A

They are huge, too big for macrophages to eat.

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6
Q

What happens to the immune system when a pathogen is cleared from the body?

A

It switches from a pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory state.

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7
Q

What is the role of the anti-inflammatory state?

A
  • avoids excessive damage to healthy tissues/cells
  • promotes tissue repait and regeneration
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8
Q

What are some common immune over-reactions?

A

Autoimmune problems

  • type 1 diabetes
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • psoriases
  • multiple sclerosis
  • lupus
  • IBD

Allergic Reaction

  • Hay fever
  • eczema
  • asthma
  • sinusitis
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9
Q

What is a common immune under-reaction?

A

Cancer

  • hepatitis
  • HIV
  • shingles
  • TB

infection

  • viruses
  • bacteria
  • fungi
  • parasites
    *
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10
Q

What are the causes of emergence of new diseases?

A

Global village

Population growth

Changes in human behaviour

Changes in dynamics of other infections

Loss of natural habitat

Interactions of pathogens with humans

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11
Q

What is the first line of defence against infection?

A

Physical barriers

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12
Q

Describe the physical barrier (skin)?

A

Tightly packed, highly keratinised, multilayered cells

Constantly undergo renewal and replacement

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13
Q

What are the important physiological features of skin?

A

low pH 5.5

low oxygen tension

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14
Q

What is the role of sebaceous glands?

A

Secrete hydrophobic oils

Lysozyme

Ammonia

Antimicrobial peptides

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15
Q

Where is mucus present as a barrier to infection?

A

Mucous membrane lines all body cavities that come into contact with the environment

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16
Q

What is the role of mucous?

A

Traps invading pathogens

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17
Q

What is present in mucous to enhance its defence properties?

A
  • sectetory IgA prevents bacteria and viruses attatching to and penetrating epithelial cells
  • contains enzymes: lysozyme, defensins and antimicrobial peptides directly kill invading pathogens. Lactoferrin acts to starve invading bacteria of iron.
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18
Q

What is the role of cilia in mucosal defence?

A

Trap pathogens and contribute to removal of mucous, assisted by sneezing and coughing.

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19
Q

Describe the role of commensal bacteria?

A

100 trillion at epithelial surfaces

>500 species

Symbiotic relationship with the host

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20
Q

Describe the functions of commensal bacteria

A
  • production of bactericidins which influence other bacteria
  • synthesis of vitamin K, B12
  • reduction in pH of large bowel
  • Competition for essential nutrients
  • production of anti-microbial short chain fatty acids
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21
Q

What can affect the function of commensals?

A

Malnutrition

Intercurrent infection

Age

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22
Q

What happens after the erradication of commensals?

A

Organisms rapidly colonise an undefended niche

  • oral candidiasis after oral antibiotics
  • vaginal candidiases after oreal antibiotics
  • C.Diff after IV antibiotics
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23
Q

What kind of medical interventions breach constitutive barriers?

A

Insertion of ‘hardware’

  • IV lines, catheters, NG tubes

Antibiotcs

Anti-acid medication

Nasal decongestants

Anti-bacterial wipes

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24
Q

What is humoural immunity mediated by?

A

soluble macro-molecules (lipids, proteins) found in extracellular secretions and fluids

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25
Q

What are the two major components of the immune system?

A

Cells and soluble factors

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26
Q

Name the cells involved in the immune system

A
  • phagocytes
    • neutrophils
    • monocytes and macrophages
    • dendritic cells
  • Lymphocytes
    • T cells
    • B cells
    • NK cells
  • Mast cells, eosinophils, basophils
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27
Q

Name the soluble (humoral) factors involved in the immune system

A

Antibodies

Complement system proteins

Cytokines

Acute phase proteins

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28
Q

What are cytokines?

A

Diverse collection of small proteins and peptides, produced in respons to infection, inflammation and tissue damage

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29
Q

What is the role of cytokines/

A

Modulate behaviour of cells and coordinate immune system

30
Q

Describe the characteristics of cytokines?

A
  • Many cytokines have multiple functions
  • Different cytokines may have overlapping functions•
  • Short half-life
  • Can act locally and/or systemically
31
Q

Name four cytokines and state their function

A

Interferons: anti-viral activity

Tumour necrosis factor a: a pro-inflammatory cytokine

Chemokines: control and direct cell migration

Interleukins: various functions

32
Q

What is paracrine siganlling?

A

Occurs between local cells where the signals elicit quick responses and last only a short period of time

33
Q

What is endocrine signalling?

A

Occurs between distant cells and is mediated by hormones and cytokines from specific cells that tracel to target cells, producing a slower, long-lasting response

34
Q

What is autocrine signalling?

A

Produces by signalling cells that can also bind to the ligand that is released, which means the signalling cell and the target cell can be the same or similar

35
Q

What are anitbodies?

A

Proteins that are produced in response to an antigen and bind specifically to the antigen

36
Q

What produces antibodies?

A

Antigen-activated B cells

37
Q

What is an antigen?

A

Any substance that can stimulate an immune response

38
Q

What do antibodies defend against?

A

Extracellular pathogens, viruses and toxins

39
Q

What is different about the binding of antigens and antibodies?

A

Antibodies can bind to only one epitope

Antigens can contain many binding sited for different antibodies

40
Q

Where are mature B and T cells found?

A

Circulating in blood, lymph and secondary lymphoid tissue

41
Q

When to mature B cells and T cells become active?

A

When they encoutner a pathogen/antigen

42
Q

What are B cells responsible for?

A

Production and secretion of antibodies to defend against extracellular pathogens

43
Q

What are T cells responsible for?

A

Key role in defence against intracellular pathogens (viruses, mycobacteria)

44
Q

What are helper T cells?

A

Key regulators of the immune system

45
Q

What are cytotoxic T cells?

A

Kill virally infected body cells

46
Q

What is the structure of NK cells?

A

Large granular lymphocytes

47
Q

What is the role of NK cells?

A

Can detect and kill tumour cells and virally infected cells

Kill antibody-bound cells/pathogens

Release lytic granules that kill

48
Q

Where are mast cells found?

A

Reside in tissues and protect mucosal sufaces

49
Q

Where are basophils and eosinphils found? How are they recruited?

A

Circulate in the blood

Recruited to sites of infection by inflammatory signals

50
Q

How common are basophils and eosinophils?

A

Low number in non-allergic, healthy people

51
Q

What happens when mast cells, basophils and eosinophils are activated?

A

Release chemicals such as

  • histamine
  • heparin
  • pro-inflammatory cytokines
52
Q

What is the release of chemicals such as histamine, heparin and pro-inflammatory cytokines important for?

A

Defence against antibody-coated pathogens e.g. parasitic worms

Role in mediating allergic response

53
Q

Where are complement proteins produced?

A

In the liver

54
Q

What do complement proteins circulate as?

A

Inactive precursor proteins

55
Q

When do complement proteins become activated? and what happens?

A

When they enter infected/inflamed tissues

they ezymatically cleace and acticate other downstream complement proteins as a cascade

56
Q

What are complement proteins important in ?

A

Promoting inflammation and defense against certain bacterial species

57
Q

What is the role of phagocytes?

A
  • ingest and kill bacteria and fungi
  • ingest and clear debris
    • dead and dying apoptotic cells
    • immune complexes (antigen/antibody complex)
  • sources of cytokines which regulate inflammatory response
58
Q

Where are phagocytes particularly important?

A

In the exposed sites

  • skin
  • epithelial tissues- gut, respiratory tract

fast acting, first line of defence against invading pathogens

  • defence against bacteria and dungi
59
Q

Where are monocytes found?

A

Circulating in the blood

Migrate into peripheral tissues and differentiate into macrohpages

60
Q

What are macrophages?

A

Long-lived tissue resident phagocytes

  • kupfer cells (liver)
  • alveolar macrophages (lung)
  • mesangial cells (kidney)
  • microglial cells (nervous system)
61
Q

What are some of the macrophages roles?

A

Reduce inflammation

Involved in tissue repair and wound healing

Involved in antigen presentation

62
Q

What are neutrophils also known as?

A

Polymorphonuclear cells or PMNs

63
Q

Where are neutrophils found?

A

In the blood

Rapidly recruited into inflamed, damaged, and infected tissues

64
Q

What are the characteristics of neutrophil production?

A

Produced at a huge rate (50-70% circulating cells)

6hr half life

65
Q
A
66
Q

Where are dendritic cells found?

A

Present at peripheral tissues in immature state

67
Q

What is the main function of dendritic cells?

A

Phagocytose antigens and present antigens on their surface to T cells

68
Q

What is this cell?

A

Macrophage

69
Q

What is this cell?

A

Neutrophil

70
Q

Identify this cell?

A

Dendritic cell

71
Q

Identify this cell

A

Monocyte

72
Q

Identify this cell?

A

Basophil

Principles 2018 (34 decks)

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