Innate Immunity Flashcards by Tanvi Sud

What is innate immunity?

Non-specific response to pathogens that don’t distinguish one pathogen from the other; rather attempts to block them all

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What are the three different types of innate immunity?

Physical barriers, chemical barriers, and cellular defenses

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What are types of physical barriers?

Skin
Mucus membranes
Chemical secretions
Micro biome
Mechanical actions

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How does the top layer of skin prevent viral infection?

The top layer of the skin is dead and viruses need living cells in order to reproduce

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What pH level do sebaceous glands keep the skin at?

3-5 (acidic)

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What does the dryness of the skin do?

The waterproof barrier of the skin inhibits growth of many types of bacteria

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What do skin’s tight junctions do?

Adhere to the cells tightly and densely so pathogens can’t squeeze through the body

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Where can mucous membranes be found?

Eyes, ears, inside the nose and mouth, lips, vagina, urethral opening, and the anus

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How does the mucous membrane help the immune system?

Cells create a sticky mucous that traps particles before they can go deeper into the body

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What are types of mechanical actions that remove pathogens from the body?

Shedding of skin cells
Mucociliary sweeping
Coughing
Vomiting and Diarrhea
Flushing of Bodily fluids (urine, tears)

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What are internal defenses of the innate immune system?

Phagocytic white blood cells
Blood clotting
Fever
Inflammation

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What is the 1st line of defense of the innate immune system?

Physical barriers (skin and mucous membranes)

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What is the 2nd line of defense of the innate immune system?

Internal defenses

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What are the functions of phagocytic leukocytes?

Engulf and digest non-human material
Display molecules from the antigens on their cell surface
Release chemicals that summon more leukocytes to the scene

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What is extravasation?

When phagocytic leukocytes circulate into the blood and move into the body tissue in response to infection

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What is an example of a chemical damaged tissue releases in order to draw white blood cells to the site of infection?

Histamine

What is the migration of white blood cells to the site of an infection called?

Chemotaxis

What are psuedopodia?

Pseudopodia are temporary cytoplasm-filled projections found in white blood cells that help capture pathogens by phagocytosis

What is the internal vesicle pf a phagocyte called?

Phagosome

What happens when a phagosome is fused to a lysosome?

Forms a phagolysosome that digests the pathogen

What are pathogenic fragments called?

Antigens

What stimulates the third line of defense?

Antigens that may be present on the surface of the phagocyte

What are the 6 steps of Leukocyte Phagocytosis?

Chemotaxis
Recognition and Attachment
Endocytosis
Bacteria within a phagocytic vacuole
Fusion of lysosomes and phagocytic vacuole
Killing and digestion

What is the function of a fever?

To accelerate tissue metabolism and immune defense activity

What are the benefits of a fever?

Increase the production of T-cells Speed up rate of tissue repair Increase in heart rate-> faster chemotaxis

What are mast cells?

Localized white blood cells that can be activated to release a wide variety of inflammatory mediators

What are basophils?

a type of white blood cell that circulates throughout the body to defend your body from allergens, pathogens and parasites

What chemical is released by mast cells and basophils when tissue damage occurs?

Histamine

How does histamine help leukocytes get to a certain region?

Causes local vasodilation and increased capillary permeability

What are chemotactic factors?

mediators released by damaged cells that induce unidirectional leukocyte movement by establishing a concentration gradient of the chemotactic factor that increases toward an area of inflammation

What causes fluid release into tissues?

Increased permeability

How are histamines produced?

B lymphocyte comes into contact with the allergen B cell differentiates into plasma cells and makes antibodies Antibodies attach and activate mast cells Histamine is released, which triggers inflammatory response

Why does one get allergy symptoms?

Histamine binds to other receptors in the body causing allergy symptoms

What are the two key components of a blood clot?

Platelets and insoluble fibrin strands

What is the function of clotting factors?

To trigger a chemical cascade which results in blood clotting

What are the steps of blood clotting?

Clotting factors stimulate thrombin release Thrombin catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin Fibrin forms a mech trap to prevent bleeding The initial stimulus is amplified to make more thrombin Exposure to air creates a scab

What changes soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin?

An enzyme named thrombin

What is coronary thrombosis?

The formation of a clot within the coronary arteries

What is atherosclerosis?

Atheromas develop in the arteries and significantly reduce the the diameter of the lumen Restricted blood flow increases pressure leading to damage Repaired with fibrous tissue, making the wall lose elasticity Lesions form called atherosclerotic plaques Plaque ruptures causing blood clotting Thrombus dislodges and creates a coronary thrombosis