Inflammation Flashcards
What are cytokines?
Small non-antibody proteins that regulate immune response
Give examples of cells involved in acute inflammatory response.
Neutrophils
Mast cells
Eosinophils
What is the role of mast cells in inflammation?
Release of histamine, increasing permeability of capillaries to WBC allowing them to reach the affected area
What is the role of complements in inflammation?
When stimulated by a trigger, complements activate and stimulate phagocytes and antibodies to respond
What is the role of prostaglandins in inflammation?
Chemical mediators that cause increased blood flow to site and stimulation of white blood cells
What are neutrophils?
First white blood cells activated in the event of pathogen invasion
What are eosinophils?
Upon activation they are responsible for production of interleukins
What are interleukins?
Cytokines that stimulate the development and differentiation of T and B cells
How does inflammation contribute to the development of solid tumours?
In chronic inflammation, tissue resident macrophages and mast cells secrete factors to recruit leukocytes from the circulation
What effect does stress have on cortisol?
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is unregulated meaning that the corticotropin releasing hormone is hyper secreted from the hypothalamus.
Adrenocorticotropin is released from the pituitary, interacting with the adrenal gland and causing cortisol release.
What is cortisol?
A steroid hormone responsible for blood glucose control, metabolism and reduction of inflammation
How does stress contribute to inflammation?
When stressed, cortisol receptors become desensitised leading to increased activity of pro-inflammatory mediators
How does cortisol impair immune function?
Decreases levels of TNF and IL-2
Induces WBC death
Reduces inflammatory response
What are the key features of obesity?
Size and number of adipose cells increased
Inflammatory and endothelial stroll vascular fraction of adipose tissue increased
What negative effects does obesity have on inflammation?
Imbalance in pro-inflammatory immune response, triggering pathways in brain and adipose tissue
Increased secretion of leptin and cytokines, and decreased secretion of adiponectin
What occurs in obesity induced adipose tissue inflammation?
Adipocyte hypertrophy Angiogenesis Immune cell infiltration Extracellular matrice overproduction Increased production of adipocytokines
How does visceral fat contribute to metabolic disease?
Due to low grade inflammation via insulin resistance and atherosclerotic build up
What is atherosclerosis?
Accumulation of cholesterol at damaged arterial endothelium
What occurs to WBC in atherosclerosis?
Macrophages digest cholesterol and become foam cells which degenerate to form atheroma
Where do plaques within arteries generally form?
Areas of low shear stress such as at branches and bends
Mechanosensors are limited, priming cells for inflammation by inducing adhesion molecules
What role do mechanosensors play in the blood?
Found in areas of high shear stress and activate kruppel-like factor 2 and nuclear factor erythroid 2 to suppress pro inflammatory signalling
How do antibodies function as drugs?
Bind to antigens allowing recognition by NK cell CD16 receptors, causing CD16 cross linking to trigger degranulation. Tumour cells then die by apoptosis
