Inflammation Flashcards
Define inflammation
Inflammation is a response of vascularized tissues to infections and damaged tissues that bring cells and molecules of host defense from the circulation to the sites where they are needed, in order to eliminate the offending agents.
What does the process of inflammation do to the damaged tissue
•The process of inflammation delivers phagocytic leukocytes and proteins (antibodies and complement proteins) to damaged or necrotic tissues and foreign invaders, such as microbes,
•Then activates recruited cells and molecules, which then function to get rid of the harmful or unwanted substances.
What happens in the absence of inflammation
infections would go unchecked, wounds would never heal, and injured tissues might remain permanent festering sores.
What else provides first response to infection apart from leukocytes
• The components of innate immunity which include natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and epithelial cells, as well as soluble factors such as the proteins of the complement system
What are the steps of the typical inflammatory reaction
• The offending agent, which is located in extravascular tissues, is recognized by host cells and molecules.
• Leukocytes and plasma proteins are recruited from the
circulation to the site where the offending agent is located.
• The leukocytes and proteins are activated; together they destroy and eliminate the offending substance.
• The reaction is controlled and terminated. • The damaged tissue is repaired.
What’s the sequence of events for inflammation of an epithelium cut buy a pin with pathogen on it
•Chemical signals released by the activated macrophage and mast cells at the injury site cause nearby capillaries to expand and become more permeable
•Fluid, clotting elements and anti microbial agents move from the blood to the site and clotting begins
•chemokines released by various kinds of cells attract more phagocytes from blood to injury site
•Neutrophils and macrophages phagocytose pathogens and cell debris at the site, and the tissue heals
What types of cells are most abundant in acute and chronic nflammatory site
Neutrophils - acute inflammation
Lymphocytes and macrophages- chronic inflammation
What type of cell causes Acute respiratory distress syndrome -
Neutrophils
What Acute Diseases are Caused by Inflammatory Reactions
•Acute respiratory distress syndrome -
•Asthma
•Glomerulonephritis
•Septic shock
What chronic Diseases are Caused by Inflammatory Reactions
•Arthritis
•Asthma
•Atherosclerosis
•Pulmonary fibrosis
What cell or molecule is involved in acute respiratory distress syndrome
Neutrophils
What kind of cell causes asthma
Eosinophils;
IgE antibodies
What kind of cell causes glomerulonephritis
Antibodies and complement; neutrophils, monocytes
What kind of cells cause septic shock
Cytokines
What kind of cells cause arthritis
Lymphocytes,
macrophages;
antibodies
What kind of cells cause atherosclerotis
Macrophages;
lymphocytes
What kind of cells cause pulmonary fibrosis
Macrophages;
fibroblasts
What is acute inflammation
The initial, rapid response to infections and tissue damage
•develops within minutes or hours and is of short duration, lasting for several hours or a few days
What’s the main characteristic of acute inflammation
It’s main characteristics are the exudation of fluid and plasma proteins (edema) and the emigration of leukocytes, predominantly neutrophils (also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes)
What happens if the acute inflammation fails to clear the stimulus
the reaction can progress to a protracted phase (chronic inflammation)
What is chronic inflammation
It is an inflammation of longer duration, slower in onset than acute inflammation
What are the things associated with chronic inflammation
• more tissue destruction,
• the presence of lymphocytes and macrophages,
• proliferation of blood vessels, and the deposition of connective tissue.
What are the cardinal signs of inflammation
• rubor (redness),
• tumor (swelling),
• calor (heat),
• dolor (pain).
• functio laesa (loss of function)
What are the causes of inflammation
• Infections - (bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic) and microbial toxins are among the most common and medically important causes of inflammation.
• Tissue necrosis - ischemia (reduced blood flow, the cause of myocardial infarction), trauma, and physical and chemical injury (e.g., thermal injury, as in burns or frostbite; irradiation; exposure to some environmental chemicals).
• Foreign bodies - splinters, dirt, sutures.
• Deposition of endogenous substances – harmful when large amounts are deposited in tissues; such substances include urate crystals (in the disease gout), cholesterol crystals (in atherosclerosis), and lipids (in obesity-associated metabolic syndrome).
•Immune reactions (also called hypersensitivity) - The injurious immune responses may be directed against self antigens, causing autoimmune diseases, or may be inappropriate reactions against environmental substances, as in allergies, or against microbes.
What are the 3 major components of acute inflammation
•dilation of small vessels leading to an increase in blood flow,
•increased permeability of the microvasculature enabling plasma proteins and leukocytes to leave the circulation, and
•emigration of the leukocytes from the microcirculation, their accumulation in the focus of injury, and their activation to eliminate the offending agent
What are the 2 vascular changes seen in acute inflammation
•changes in the flow of blood and
•the permeability of vessels,
What is exudation
The escape of fluid, proteins, and blood cells from the vascular system into the interstitial tissue or body cavities
What is an exudate
extravascular fluid that has a high protein concentration and contains cellular debris.
What is a transudate
a fluid with low protein content (most of which is albumin), little or no cellular material, and low specific gravity.
When is a transudate produced
Transudate is essentially an ultrafiltrate of blood plasma that is produced as a result of osmotic or hydrostatic imbalance across the vessel wall without an increase in vascular permeability.
What’s the difference between an exudate and a transudate
Exudate occurs due to increased vessel permeability in acute inflammation while transudate occurs due to osmotic imbalance and no increased permeability
What is edema
denotes an excess of fluid in the interstitial tissue or serous cavities; it can be either an exudate or a transudate.
What is pus
a purulent exudate, is an inflammatory exudate rich in leukocytes (mostly neutrophils), the debris of dead cells and, in many cases, microbes.
When does change in vascular flow and caliber occur
early after injury
What does change in vascular flow and caliber consist of
I. Vasodilation induced by the action of several mediators, notably histamine, on vascular smooth muscle.
II. Vasodilation is quickly followed by increased permeability of the microvasculature
What is one of the earliest manifestations of acute inflammation
Vasodilation
What vessels are dilated in acute inflammation
Vasodilation first involves the arterioles and then leads to
opening of new capillary beds in the area.
What causes heat and redness at the site of inflammation
increased blood flow due to vasodilation
What happens when there’s increased permeability of the micro vasculature
There is outpouring of protein-rich fluid into the extravascular tissues
What Does The loss of fluid and increased vessel diameter lead to in acute inflammation
slower blood flow, concentration of red cells in small vessels, and increased viscosity of the blood.
What is stasis
engorgement of small vessels with slowly moving red cells ( due to loss of protein filled fluid leaving the vessels in inflammation)
How is stasis seen
vascular congestion and localized redness of the involved tissue.
What happens as stasis develops
blood leukocytes, principally neutrophils, accumulate along the vascular endothelium.
(Endothelial cells are activated)
Leukocytes then adhere to the endothelium, and soon afterward they migrate through the vascular wall into the interstitial tissue.
How are endothelial cells activated
• endothelial cells are activated by mediators produced at sites of infection and tissue damage
• The endothelial cells express increased levels of adhesion molecules.
What are the mechanisms responsible for the increased permeability of postcapillary venules
a. Contraction of endothelial cells resulting in increased inter- endothelial spaces is the most common mechanism of vascular leakage.
b..Endothelial injury, resulting in endothelial cell necrosis and detachment
c. Increased transport of fluids and proteins, called transcytosis, through the endothelial cell.
What elicits contraction of endothelial cells
histamine,
bradykinin,
leukotrienes, and other chemical mediators
Why is contraction of endothelial cells called the immediate transient response
because it occurs rapidly after exposure to the mediator and is usually short- lived (15 to 30 minutes)
What is vascular leakage
Increased vascular permeability
How does vascular leakage occur in mild injury
In some forms of mild injury (e.g., after burns, irradiation or ultraviolet radiation, and exposure to certain bacterial toxins), vascular leakage begins after a delay of 2 to 12 hours and lasts for several hours or even days;
What causes delayed prolonged leakage in mild injury
caused by contraction of endothelial cells or mild endothelial damage.
Example of delayed prolonged leakage
Late appearing sunburn
What causes direct damage to the endothelium that leads to vascular leakage
Direct damage to the endothelium is encountered in severe injuries, for example, in burns, or is induced by the actions of microbes and microbial toxins that target endothelial cells.
Neutrophils that adhere to the endothelium during inflammation may also injure the endothelial cells and thus amplify the reaction.
When does vascular leakage occur
n most instances leakage starts immediately after injury and is sustained for several hours until the damaged vessels are thrombosed or repaired.
What is transcytosis
Increased transport of fluids and proteins, through the endothelial cells
What does transcytosis involve
This process may involve intracellular channels that may be stimulated by certain factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Im what vessel does contraction of endothelial cells cause leakage and induced by what
Mostly venules
Induced by histamine, NO, leukotrienes, bradykinin
In what vessels do endothelial injury causes leakage and what causes it
Arterioles, capillaries, venules
Causes- burns, microbial toxins etc
In what vessels do leukocytes mediated vessel injury cause leakage and when does it occur
Venules, pulmonary capillaries
Late stages of inflammation
In what vessels does increases transcytosis occur and what induces it
Venules
Induces by VEGF
What’s the duration of contraction derived vascular leakage
Rapid and short lived (minutes)
What’s the duration of endothelial damage derived vascular leakage
Rapid and May be long lived (hours to days)
What’s the duration of leukocyte mediated endothelial damage
Long lived
What’s the response of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes to inflammation
• Lymph flow is increased and helps drain edema fluid
• Also leukocytes and cell debris, as well as microbes, may find
their way into lymph.
• Lymphatic vessels, like blood vessels, proliferate during inflammatory reactions to handle the increased load.
• The lymphatics may become secondarily inflamed (lymphangitis), as may the draining lymph nodes (lymphadenitis).
• Inflamed lymph nodes are often enlarged due to hyperplasia of the lymphoid follicles.
• This constellation of pathologic changes is termed reactive, or inflammatory lymphadenitis
What is the constellation of pathologic changes in lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes in response to inflammation
reactive, or inflammatory lymphadenitis
Why do Lymphatic vessels, like blood vessels, proliferate during inflammatory reactions
to handle the increased load.
What is lymphangitis
When the lymphatics become secondarily inflamed as a result of inflammation
What is lymphadenitis
When the draining lymph nodes become secondary inflamed as a result of inflammation
How does inflamed lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) occur
enlarged due to hyperplasia of the lymphoid follicles.
What leukocytes are most important for inflammation
Cells capable of phagocytes
Neutrophil and macrophages
What is The changes in blood flow and vascular permeability quickly followed by
Influx of leukocytes into the tissue
What’s the function of leukocytes in inflammation
•perform the key function of eliminating the offending agents
• These leukocytes ingest and destroy bacteria and other microbes, as well as necrotic tissue and foreign substances.
• Leukocytes also produce growth factors that aid in repair.
What mediates and controls the journey of leukocytes from the vessel lumen to the tissue
It is mediated and controlled by adhesion molecules and cytokines called chemokines.
What are the three sequential phases in the journey of the leukocyte from the vessel Limen to the tissue
I. In the lumen: margination, rolling, and adhesion to endothelium.
II. Migration across the endothelium and vessel wall
III. Migration in the tissues toward a chemotactic stimulus
Since Vascular endothelium normally does not bind circulating cells or impede their passage, how do leukocytes adhere to the endothelium
In inflammation, the endothelium is activated and can bind leukocytes as a prelude to their exit from the blood vessels. (This occurs after the change in blood flow to stasis)
How do leukocytes migrate out of the vessel lumen after adhesion
Insert pseudopods into endothelial cell junction and squeeze through
What’s is the process of adhesion and transmigration dependent on
Binding of adhesion molecules on leukocytes and endothelial cells
In normal flowing venule, where are the red cells and leukocytes arranged
In normally flowing blood in venules, red cells are confined to a central axial column, displacing the leukocytes toward the wall of the vessel.
Due to slow blood flow (stasis) and hemodynamic conditions change (wall shear stress decreases), more white cells assume a peripheral position along the endothelial surface.
What is margination
Due to slow blood flow (stasis) and hemodynamic conditions change (wall shear stress decreases), more white cells assume a peripheral position along the endothelial surface.
What occurs to leukocytes after margination
Subsequently, leukocytes adhere transiently to the endothelium,
detach and bind again, thus rolling on the vessel wall.
What do leukocytes resemble when they adhere firmly to the endothelial cells
resemble pebbles over which a stream runs without disturbing them
What mediates the adherence of leukocytes on endothelium
The attachment of leukocytes to endothelial cells is mediated by complementary adhesion molecules (selectin and integrins) on the two cell types whose expression is enhanced by cytokines.
How are cytokines secreted
Cytokines are secreted by sentinel cells in tissues in response to microbes and other injurious agents.
What are The two major families of molecules involved in leukocyte adhesion and migration and where are they expressed
selectins and integrins, and their ligands.
Expressed on leukocytes and endothelial cells
What’s the function of cytokines in adhesion
This ensures that leukocytes are recruited to the tissues where these stimuli are present.
What mediates the leukocytes rolling interaction
Selectins
What are he three types of selectins
• L-selectin – expressed on leukocytes,
• E-selectin – expressed on endothelium, and
• P-selectin - platelets and on endothelium
What are the ligands for selectins
sialylated oligosaccharides bound to mucin- like glycoprotein backbones
What regulates the expression of selectins and their ligands
Cytokins