Innate immunity Flashcards
LO
- Explain the differences between innate and adaptive immunity
- Identify the key cell types and receptors involved in an innate immune response
- Describe the mediators of an innate immune response and how it links to adaptive immunity
The following things are important to understand in innate immunity
Examples of common pathogens, you dont have to learn the table, just something to be aware of
Compare the time of response for the innate vs. adaptive immune system
Compare the specificity of the innate vs adaptive immune system
Compare the diversity of the innate vs adaptive immune system
Compare the memory of the innate vs adaptive immune system
Compare the self/non-self of the innate and adaptive immune system
Compare the soluble mediators of the innate vs adaptive immune system
Compare the major cell types of the innate vs adaptive immune system
What immunity is the first one to response and is it almost immediate?
The innate immunity is the first response and is almost instant
What cells have been shown to possibly have memory in the innate immunity?
The NK cells (will come onto this in a later lecture)
What is the main function of innate immunity?
What things does this involve?
The funciton of innate immunity is to eliminate invaders
for instance:
- infection (pathogens)
- Cancer
During innate immunity when pathogens are being eliminated, what are the two key events to identify whether its an infection or cancer to eliminate?
- Pathogen recognition
- Pathogen elimination
What does pathogen recognition involve?
What does pathogen elimination involve?
Once the immune system is activated, what can then go on to be activated?
The adaptive immune system
Tell me the different cells of the immune system and where there may be some overlap
What are NK T cells?
NK T cells as look like NK cells but express a T cell receptor. This T cells receptor is invariant and only has one or two receptors, whereas cytotoxic T cells have loads
What are the soluble mediators of the innate immune system?
- Antimicrobial peptides
- Interferons
- Natural antibody
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines
Give an examples of a antimicrobial peptide
Defensins
How do defensins work?
- Kill by disrupting microbial membrane and other mechanisms such as inhibition of synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein
- Act against viruses as well
Tell me the following about interferons type I and II (innate response)
- What do they provide defence against
- What do they produce
- What do they prevent
- What do they stimulate
Interferons type I and II (innate response)
- Defence against viral infections
- Cytokines produced & released by host cells invaded by viruses
- Prevents viruses from infecting healthy cell
- Stimulates uninfected cells to produce antiviral proteins- makes the area harder for the virus to infect
Out of the following interferons (IFN) which ones are type I and type II?
IFN alpha
IFN beta
IFN gamma
IFN alpha/beta is Type I
IFN gamma is Type II
Tell me about IFN α/β functions (type I)
Activation of endoribonuclease and destruction of viral mRNA
Inhibition of protein synthesis (via EF-2 phosphorylation) through expression of protein kinase
Tell me about IFN-g functions (type II)
IFN-g functions (type II)
- Works on the innate and adaptive response
- Upregulation of MHC class I
- Enhancement of cytotoxic T cell activity- acts on CD8 also?
- Activation of Natural Killer (NK) cells- makes it a potent IFN
What are natural antibodies an important mediator of?
Innate immunity
What is the first antibody to appear at the first exposure to the antigen
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is one of several isotypes of antibody (also known as immunoglobulin) that are produced by vertebrates. IgM is the largest antibody, and it is the first antibody to appear in the response to initial exposure to an antigen.
Whats the structure of an antibody?
Tell me about the IgM antibody
- specificity?
- How they work
- what do they bind to
- Typically, IgM form of antibody
Other classes such as IgA
- Not specific
- Work in the same way as antibodies produced in adaptive immune response
- Bind to bacteria or viral particles themselves and identify to phagocytes via opsonisation or form a complex to stop the bacteria or viral particle infecting the host cell
Table showing innate and adaptive cytokines
Again don’t need to remember it all, just be aware and hvae a basic understanding
Tell me about dendritic cells
What form do they exist in?
How do they differentiate and develop?
- Exist in an immature form
- Once receive a particular stimulus, they become activated and mature
Compare some of the roles of immature vs mature dendritic cells
How are mature dendritic cells different to immature ones?
State some roles of dendritic cells
- Take up antigen by phagocytosis
- pinocytosis
- receptor mediated uptake
- Process antigen for presentation
- Present antigen to T cells in the form of MHC-peptide complexes
- Secrete inflammatory cytokines (IL-12, TNF-a, IL-6)