Inflammation Lecture 1

Question 1

Define what inflammation is

Answer 1

The response stimuli that can cause your body damage to protect it from danger/damage to promote healing

Stimuli can be pathogens, foreign proteins, response to noxious molecules and physical trauma

Question 2

What are the 5 cardinal signs of inflammation

Answer 2

Heat- calor

Redness- rubor

Swelling- tumor

Pain- dolor

Loss of function

Question 3

What are the three ways to describe the time scale of the inflammatory response

Answer 3

Onset

Resolution

Post-resolution

Question 4

What is involved in the onset of the inflammatory response

Answer 4

Production of inflammatory mediators by resident cells

Infiltration of leukocytes

Elimination of pathogen and/or debris

Question 5

What is involved in the resolution of the inflammatory response

Answer 5

Removal of inflammatory stimuli

Catabolism of pro-inflammatory mediators

Polymorphonuclear (PMN) death and efferocytosis

Influx of monocyte derived macrophages

Question 6

What is involved in the post resolution of the inflammatory process

Answer 6

Influx of adaptive immune cells

Re-assembly of the tissue resident macrophages and dendritic cells

Adaptive immunity established

Body begins to adapt to pathogen and acts as an innate component

Question 7

Describe the summary of inflammatory events when someone is cut by a splinter that contains pathogens

Answer 7

1. Cell resonate under the skin that sense any damage through patient recognition receptors
2. Mast and macrophage cells release signalling molecules that signal capillary bed
3. Capillary bed receives neutrophils that will help get rid of pathogens on splinter
4. Removal occurs via phagocytosis and resolution occurs to remove debris

Question 8

Give an example of a sentinel cell and what it is

Answer 8

Bodies first line defence

Example: Mast cells, Macrophages

Question 9

What is the role of mast cells and how are they activated

Answer 9

Role: Release pro inflammatory mediators like histamine, prostaglandins, and platelet activating factor

Activated by:
IgE, C3a, C5a
Fibrolytic cascade in blood

Question 10

What is the role of endothelial cells

Answer 10

Role: respond to pro-inflammatory mediators to release mediators that cause vasodilation

Examples: Prostaglandins and NO (promotes heating)

Question 11

How is the redness, swelling and heating triggered in inflammation

Answer 11

Cytokine and mediators

Vasodilation- increase blood flow to area

Vascular permeability- fluid in to injury area

Question 12

What is the proteolytic cascade and give an example of it

Answer 12

Conversion of factor XIIa from plasma into pro-inflammatory products that activate complement cascade (C1 to C9)

Example:
C3a and C5a stimulate MAST cells and release histamine and other factors

Question 13

What are the role of leukocytes

Answer 13

They are attracted to pathogens via chemotaxis to engulf, kill and digest micro-organisms

Question 14

What are the roles of monocytes/macrophages

Answer 14

They eat up micro-organisms and cell debris

Release many factors to co-ordinate inflammatory response
examples: cytokines and chemokine

Question 15

What does the resolution phase involve in inflammation

Answer 15

Healing and return of tissue back to normal function

Question 16

Give three hormones that increase in non resolving inflammation

Answer 16

Increase TNF- persistence of inflammatory trigger

Increase IFNs- ongoing presence of inflammatory macrophages

Increase IL-6- failure to establish adaptive immunity

Question 17

What is a cytokine or chemokine role

Answer 17

Protein/peptide signalling molecule that modulate function of other cells in inflammation and immunity

Question 18

What are the major pro inflammatory cytokines that initiate most of the vascular and cellular events

Answer 18

TNF-alpha

Interleukin-1 (IL-1)

Question 19

Explain each of the flush, wheal and flare reactions

Answer 19

Flush: arterial vasodilation

Wheal: oedema and swelling

Flare: sensory nerve induced dilatation- CGRP

Question 20

What stimulates mast cell degeneration

Answer 20

C3a, C5a and IgE (recognises many allergens)

Question 21

What are some the effects histamine has when it stimulates H1 receptors

Answer 21

Constriction of GI and bronchial smooth muscle

Dilation GI and bronchial smooth muscle

Dilates blood vessels via stimulation of endothelial cells

Itch normally associated with wound healign

Question 22

What is the Eicosanoid structure and give examples of the types formed

Answer 22

Found on the lipid bilayer that is made up of polar phospholipid head and arachidonic acid

Examples: PGI, PGE, PGD, PGF, Thromboxane

Also known as PROSTAGLANDINS

Question 23

What is the role of PGI2, PGE2 and PGD2

Answer 23

PGI2, PGE2 and PGD2 are all vasodilators

PGE2 plays role in thermoregulation of hypothalamus

Question 24

What are Leukotrienes and its role

Answer 24

Made via arachidonic acid via lipoxygenases

Role:
constrict bronchial smooth muscle
Increase vascular permeability
Evoke wheal and flare reaction (similar to histamine)

Question 25

What are antagonists of leukotrienes (drugs) and what are they used for

Answer 25

Used in asthma

Zafirlukast and MONTELUKAST

Question 26

What are Lipoxins and its role

Answer 26

Formed by lipoxygenases (anti-inflammatory) properties

Question 27

What does PAF (platelet activating factor) do

Answer 27

Stimulates signs and symptoms of inflammation (flush, wheal and flare) 
Induces hyperalgesia (pain)