Inflammation, Hypersensitivity, and Autoimmunity Flashcards

1
Q

What are the signs of inflammation?

A
Rubour - redness
Calor - heat
Tumour - swelling
Dolor - pain
Loss of function
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the possible causes of acute inflammation? (6)

A

Microorganisms (infection)
Mechanical (injury)
Chemical (upset pH, bile and urine in the wrong place causing irritation)
Physical (extreme heat, cold, radiation)
Dead Tissue (necrotic tissue irritating adjacent tissue)
Hypersensitivity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What makes up the microcirculation?

A
Capillary beds (arterioles, venules)
Extracellular compartment and contents`
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Where does the process of inflammation occur?

A

In the microcirculation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the process of inflammation

A

Change in vessel radius alters blood flow
Change in vessel wall permeability causes exudation
Neutrophils move from the vessel into the extravascular space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Contrast normal laminar flow and blood flow in inflammation

A

Normal: Heaviest components (neutrophils) in centre of vessel, intermediate components farther from centre (erythrocytes), lightest components nearest edges of vessel (plasma)

In inflammation:
Neutrophils migrate to edge of vessel, erythrocytes collect in centre.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is neutrophil margination?

A

Neutrophils migrate toward vessel wall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is neutrophil pavementing?

A

Neutrophils adhere to endothelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is neutrophil emigration?

A

Neutrophils actively squeeze between endothelial cells into the extravascular tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What term would be used to describe inflammation of the peritoneal cavity?

A

Peritonitis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What term would be used to describe inflammation of the meninges?

A

Meningitis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What term would be used to describe inflammation of the appendix?

A

Appendicitis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What term would be used to describe inflammation of the lung?

A

Pneumonia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What term would be used to describe inflammation of the pleural cavity?

A

Pleurisy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the function of neutrophils and how do they act?

A

Mobile phagocytes

Neutrophils release granule contents and phagocytose and destroy foreign antigens. .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What do neutrophil granules contain?

A

Granules possess oxidants (eg hydrogen peroxide) and enzymes (eg proteases)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the consequences of neutrophil action?

A

Neutrophils die when granule contents are released (as they digest self in addition to pathogen)
Pus production
May extend into other tissues to progress the inflammation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is pus?

A

Fluid
Cell remnants
Endogenous protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the three general types of mediators of acute inflammation?

A

Molecules on endothelial cell surface membrane
Molecules released from cells
Molecules in the plasma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the general effects of mediators of acute inflammation?

A
Vasodilation/Vasocontriction
Altered permeability
Neutrophil adhesion
Chemotaxis
Itch 
Pain
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Why do mediators of acute inflammation result in a dynamic balance?

A

They have both positive and negative effects which can favour and inhibit inflammation and they are relative to need.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are some of the immediate systemic effects of acute inflammation?

A

Pyrexia
Feeling unwell (malaise, anorexia, naurea, and also abdominal pain and vomiting in children)
Neutrophilia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are some of the longer term system effects of inflammation?

A

Lymphadenopathy
Weight loss
Anaemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is an abscess?

A

A collection of pus (suppuration) under pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is pus formed from? (7)

A
Dead Tissue
Organisms
Exudate
Neutrophils
Fibrin
Red Cells
Debris
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What surrounds the pus in an abscess?

A

A pyogenic membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is a multiloculated abscess?

A

Occurs when pus bursts through the pyogenic membrane and forms new cavities.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What occurs in organisation in the context of acute inflammation?

A

Granulation tissue formation
Healing and repair
Leads to fibrosis and scarring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is granulation tissue formed by/from?

A

New capillaries
Fibroblasts and collagen
Macrophages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is dissemination in the context of acute inflammation?

A

Spread of inflammation (infection) to blood stream - sepsis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Contrast the terms:
Bacteraemia
Septicaemia
Toxaemia

A

Bacteria: bacteria in blood
Septicaemia: GROWTH of bacteria in blood
Toxaemia: toxic products in the blood

32
Q

What is shock?

A

An inability to perfuse the tissues

33
Q

What are the symptoms of septic shock?

A
Peripheral vasodilation
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Pyrexia
Haemorrhagic rash (sometimes)
34
Q

Describe the pathogenesis of sepsis

A

Systemic release of mediators in the plasma

  • Cause vasodilation
  • Results in catecholamine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) release
  • Tachycardia results as heart attempts to compensate for above

Bacterial endotoxin released
-Interlukin-1 released which acts on hypothalamus causing pyrexia

35
Q

What are the predominant cell types in chronic inflammation?

A

Lymphocytes
Plasma Cells
Macrophages

36
Q

What are the features of chronic inflammation?

A

Tissue/organ necrosis

Loss of function

37
Q

Describe the clinical presentation of chronic inflammation

A

Often no specific localised pain
Malaise and weight loss
Loss of function

38
Q

Describe the formation of granulation tissue

A

Capillaries grow into inflammatory mass
Presence of plasma proteins and macrophages
Fibroblasts lay down collagen to repair damaged tissue
Collagen replaces exudate

39
Q

What is the function of granulation tissue?

A

Patches tissue defects
Replaces necrotic tissue
Contracts and pulls together wound

40
Q

What are the products of organisation (granulation tissue formation)

A

Scar (fibrous tissue)
Fibrosis (can be problematic)
-this can progress to chronic inflammation

41
Q

What are the possible causes of primary chronic inflammation? (4) Give an example for each cause

A

Autoimmune disease
-Thyroiditis

Material resistant to digestion

  • Mycobacteria, brucella, viruses
  • Cell wall resistant to enzymes

Exogenous substances

  • Sutures, Metal/plastic (eg joint replacement), glass
  • Do not provoke immune response

Endogenous substances

  • Necrotic tissue, keratin, hair
  • Cannot be easily phagocytosed
42
Q

What are the functions of B-lymphocytes in chronic inflammation?

A
Differentiate to form plasma cells
Facilitate the immune response
Act with macrophages (presenting the antigen)
Act with T-lymphocytes
Have immune memory
43
Q

What are the functions of T-lymphocytes in chronic inflammation?

A

Produce cytokines

  • Attract and hold macrophages
  • Activate macrophages
  • Affect permeability

Produce interferon

  • Antiviral effects
  • Attract and stimulate other cells

Damage and lyse other cells and destroy antigen
-Using granule proteins

44
Q

What are the functions of natural killer cells in chronic inflammation?

A

Destroy antigens and cells

-Using granule proteins

45
Q

What are the functions of macrophages in chronic inflammation?

A

Remove debris

Antigen present

46
Q

Describe the mechanism of action of macrophages in chronic inflammation.

A

Motile phagocytes that move from the blood
Take over from neutrophils (macrophages are longer lived)
Contain enzymes and produce interferon and other chemicals

47
Q

What are the functions of fibroblasts in chronic inflammation

A

Make and assemble structural proteins (collagen)

48
Q

What is a granuloma?

A

An aggregate of epithelioid macrophages

49
Q

What is an epithelioid macrophage?

A

A macrophage that looks like an epithelial cell.

50
Q

What is a giant cell?

A

Multinucleate cells with a large cytoplasm

Possible result from the fusion of macrophages to form larger cells.

51
Q

What are the different cell types that may be associated with granulomas?

A
!Epithelioid macrophages
Giant cells
Lymphocytes
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
52
Q

State factors favouring wound healing (6)

A
Cleanliness
Good nutrition
Metabolic stability
Normal coagulation
Local mediators
Apposition of edges
-No haematoma
53
Q

State factors impairing wound healing. (7)

A
Dirty, gaping wound
Haematoma
Poor nutrition
-Lack of vitamins A and C
Abnormal carbohydrate metabolism
Diabetes
Corticosteroid therapy
Inhibition of angiogenesis
54
Q

Summarise the process of wound healing

A
  1. Injury
  2. Blood clot
  3. Acute inflammation
  4. Fibrin
  5. Granulation tissue growth
    - Angiogenesis
  6. Phagocytosis of fibrin
  7. Myofibroblasts lay down collagen
  8. Contraction of scar
  9. Re-epithelialisation
55
Q

What cells types are present in fracture healing in addition to those found in normal wound healing?

A

Osteoblasts in addition to fibroblasts in granulation phase

56
Q

What is type I hypersensitivity?

A

Inappropriate synthesis of IgE by the immune system (allergy)

57
Q

What is IgE production which is associated with symptoms known as?

A

Allergy

58
Q

What is IgE production which is not associated with symptoms known as?

A

Atopy (subclinical sensitisation)

59
Q

Describe the pathogenesis of type I hypersensitivity

A

Allergen Exposure
Mast cell + allergen specific IgE
Release of inflammatory mediators (eg histamine and prostaglandins)
Signs and Symptoms (muscosal oedema, capillary leakage, secretions, smooth muscle contraction, vasodilatation)

60
Q

What is type II hypersensitivity?

A

IgG and IgM mediated hypersensitivity directed against antigens (either exogenous or self) on the surface of cells or fixed within tissues

61
Q

Describe the mechanism of type II hypersensitivity

A

Antibody binds to relevant antigen
Complement activated
Fc binding of immunoglobulin and stimulation of phagocytes
Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)

62
Q

What is type III hypersensitivity?

A

The abnormal deposition of formed immune complexes (antigen/antibody complexes)

63
Q

What is the normal fate of immune complexes?

A

Enter blood stream and travel to liver and spleen to be taken up and destroyed by fixed phagocytes

64
Q

What occurs to immune complexes in type III hypersensitivity and what are the consequences of this?

A

Precipitate out into tissues.
Causes inflammation
-Serum sickness (systemic illness with complexes deposited in many tissues)
-Arthus reaction (complexes localised to a particular tissue)

65
Q

What is type IV hypersensitivity?

A

Delayed-type hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity mediated by Th1 and cytokines in response to inert environmental substances and certain infections

66
Q

Why does type IV hypersensitivity occur?

A

The body struggles to destroy the agents

67
Q

What is a Hapten?

A

A non-infectious agent of low molecular weight which elicits a type IV hypersensitive response

68
Q

What is a carrier protein? (in the context of type IV hypersensitivity)

A

A protein to which a hapten is bound

69
Q

How long does type IV hypersensitivity take to produce a clinical effect?

A

48-72 hours

70
Q

Describe the pathogenesis of type IV hypersensitivity to a non-infectious agent

A

Exogenous low molecular weight antigen (hapten) + endogenous protein (carrier)
Antigen uptake and presentation (MHC II)
Th1 antigen recognition/cytokine production
Inflammation

71
Q

Describe the pathogenesis of type IV hypersensitivity to an infectious agent

A

Microorganism (eg mycobacterium)
Antigen uptake and presentation (MHC II)
Th1 antigen recognition/cytokine production
Inflammation

72
Q

What is autoimmunity?

A

An immune response against autoantigens

73
Q

What is tolerance?

A

The process by which the immune system avoids damaging reactions against autoantigens

74
Q

How is tolerance accomplished?

A

(Central tolerance) Deletion of autoreactive lymphocytes during maturation
(Peripheral tolerance) inhibition of autoreactive cells which escape central tolerance

75
Q

What are the effector mechanisms involved in autoimmunity?

A

Identical to normal immune response, hence:

T-cell and antibody activity
Antibody activation of complement mediated inflammation
Immune complex formation
Recruitment of innate immune cells

76
Q

What two factors are the most important contributors to the manifestation of autoimmunity?

A

Environmental and genetic