Integrity: Immunology Flashcards
Give brief definitions of each of these molecules and cells of the immune system:
Molecules
* Complement
* Cytokines
* Chemokines
* Antibodies
Cells
* Leukocytes
* Innate cells
* Adaptive cells
Molecules:
- Complement - system of soluble serum proteins that interacts with pathogens to mark them for destruction by phagocytes
- Cytokines - immune messenger hormones
* Chemokines (cytokines which specialise in making cells move) - Antibodies - secreted molecules which bind pathogens
Cells
- Leukocytes = all immune cells (innate and adaptive) Literally “white
blood cell” - Innate cells (Macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, eosinophils,
basophils and mast cells) - Adaptive cells (T cells, B cells) (lymphocytes)
How are the following tissues involved in the immune system?
- Lymphatics
- lymph nodes
- spleen
- thymus
- bone marrow.
- Lymphatics - drainage system for peripheries therefore a good place to scan for problems
- Lymph nodes - collections of immune cells at lymphatic junctions
- Spleen - filters blood so immune cells present
- Thymus - involved in the creation of immune cells
- Bone marrow - where all blood cells originate hence all immune cells
How does the skin provide a barrier to pathogens?
The epidermis consists of dead cells and viruses need alive cells to infect
What is the anti-viral state?
When a cell is infected by a virus it releases IFN-alpha and IFN-beta.
These cause the surrounding cells to enter an antiviral state
- Upregulate antiviral proteins (including more IFNs), and antigen
presentation - Downregulate everything else by degrading mRNA and
inhibiting protein translation factors (suppress viral
proliferation)
What are the interferons involved in inducing an anti-viral state?
IFNα and IFNβ
What are IFNα and IFNβ
They are interferons released when a cell detects that it is infected by a virus and they induce an anti-viral state in surrounding cells
What are the two things you need in order to get an adaptive immune response?
Danger and non-self
Two types of danger molecules?
PAMPs = Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns
- types of molecules only produced by infectious agents
and not host tissue - critical for survival/virulence - Example = bacterial cell wall constituents
(lipopolysaccharide - LPS)
DAMPs = Damage Associated Molecular Patterns
- Molecules released from injured cells
- Examples = DNA, RNA, ATP, breakdown products of
extracellular matrix
What are PAMPs and why do pathogen make them?
PAMPs = Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns
- types of molecules only produced by infectious agents
and not host tissue - critical for survival/virulence - Example = bacterial cell wall constituents
(lipopolysaccharide - LPS)
They are usually critical for pathogen survival otherwise the pathogens would evolve not to make them and therefore not get recognised
What are DAMPs
DAMPs = Damage Associated Molecular Patterns
- Molecules released from injured cells
- Examples = DNA, RNA, ATP, breakdown products of
extracellular matrix
What is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR)
These are the things that recognise PAMPs and DAMPs
Toll like receptors are an example of PRRs.
What do each of the toll like receptors recognise?
- TLR3
- TLR4
- TLR5
- TLR3 binds double-stranded RNA (viruses)
- TLR4 binds LPS (bacterial cell wall)
- TLR5 binds flagellin (flagellated bacteria)
Three pathways of complement activation
- Classical pathway
- Mannose-binding
lectin pathway - Alternative pathway
Describe the classical pathway of complement activation
- This occurs in the presence of antibodies specific to foreign antigens
- The antibodies bind to compliment C1q
- C1q then activates the rest
Which complement is first activated in the classical pathway?
C1q
Describe the mannose-binding lectin pathway of complement activation
Mannose is present on the surface of bacteria and not on any host cells.
Mannose binding lectin then bind to mannose triggering complement activation
Describe the alternative pathway of complement activation
Complement componant C3 spontaineously binds to surrounding cells
Host cells contain control proteins which prevent further complement activation
Bacteria do not
Complement involved in the alternative complement activation pathway?
C3
Describe the process of complement membrane lysis
- Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) forms in membrane of bacteria, this is a barrel-like structure formed from multiple late complement components (C5b,C6-C9)
- Water rushes in, ions rush out, bacteria swells and
bursts - Can also happen to host/foreign cells marked for killing
What is the barrel like structure in complement membrane lysis called?
Membrane attack complex
MAC
Which complement componants are involved in forming the membrane attack complex?
C5b,C6-C9
What are anaphylatoxins?
They are complement componants that cause vessels to become leaky
This allows the flodding of immune cells in the blood to the site of infection
What complement are anaphylatoxins?
C3a,C5a
What is opsonisation
This is where compliment C3b and C4b bind to pathogens and mark them for phagocytosis
Complement factors involved in oponisation?
C3b and C4b
Describe the complement cascade using all the complement componants
C1
C2 a/b
C3 convertase
C4 a/b
C3 a/b
C5 a/b
C6-C9
We need to get to the formation of C3 convertase which will cleave C3 into C3a and C3b
Classical: C1 cleaves C2 and C4. C3 convertase is then formed from C2b and C4b fragments. C4b oponiser
Mannose-binding lectin: Binding firectly cleaves C2 and C4. C3 convertase is then formed from C2b and C4b fragments. C4b oponiser
Alternative: C3 cleaved spontainously in C3b and C3a. C3b binds to pathogen surface and is activated by factor B to form another C3 convertase
C3 convertase cleave C3 into C3a and C3b.
C3a is an anaphylatoxin.
C3b is an oponiser and goes on to combine with C3 convertase to form C5 convertase which cleaves C5.
C5 cleaved by C3a into C5a and C5b.
C5a is an anaphylatoxin
C5b goes on to trigger and partake in complement membrane lysis with C6-9
In general “a” are anaphylotoxins while “b” are oponisers and cleavers of further complemments
List all the innate immune cells
Phagocytes:
Neutrophils
Macrophages
Dendritic
Allergic/parasites:
Eosinophil
Basophil
Mast cell
Virally infected:
NK Cell
Which of the innate immune cells are phagocytes?
Phagocytes:
Neutrophils
Macrophages
Dendritic
Which innate immune cells are involved in allergic reactions and parasite response?
Eosinophil
Basophil
Mast cell
Which innate immune cells are involved in killing virally infected cells?
Natural killer “NK” cells
Comparing the phagocytes
What is Extravasation?
Neutrophils need to get from the circulation to the site of inflammation - process of
extravasation
- Endothelium of blood vessel altered by inflammatory cytokines
- Neutrophil starts to roll along endothelium, then firmly adheres, and exits between
endothelial cells (diapedesis) - Follows chemokine gradient to site of inflammation.
Describe the process of phagocytosis
- Phagocyte detects pathogen and
engulfs it - forms phagosome - Lysosome fuses with phagosome
- lysosome contains toxic products
to kill/degrade pathogen - Now called phagolysosome
- Phagolysosome “matures” as
more lysosomes fuse with it and
H+ ions are pumped in - acid!
What is the phagosome, lysosome and phagolysosome
Phagosome - vesticle containing the munch
Lysosome - vesticle containing digestive chems and enzymes
Phagolysosome - fused phagosome and lysosome
How are macrophages activated to become phagocytes?
- Activation can come from danger signalling or cytokines,
especially IFNγ - IFNγ from other cells - NK cells, other activated macrophages, but
in an established immune response, from helper T cells.
What is a Neutrophil NETs
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
- Neutrophils can extrude their DNA, acting like
a net which traps pathogens. - = “Netosis” (vs apoptosis and necrosis)
- Primarily seen in extracellular fungal infections.
What is a dendritic cells main purpose?
Antigen presentation
How does a dendritic cell present antigens to T cells?
When dendritic cells in the
periphery they are
constantly taking up antigen.
* If they sense danger they
“mature”
* Get better at antigen
presentation, and
upregulate different
chemokine receptors
* This results in their
migration to the
lymphatics, and into the
draining lymph node,
where they will present
antigen to T cells.
Difference between B and T cell antigen recognition
T cells must have their antigen chopped up in peptides and then loaded on
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on another cell (dentritic cell)
T - fancy fucks
Three signals involved in antigen presentation?
Signal 1: the antigen peptides on the MHC
Signal 2: B7 receptor (only there if the dendritic cells sensed PAMPs/DAMPs) that binds to the CD28 ligand on the T cell. This is required for a presentation
Siganl 3: cytokine signal to signal the quality of the immune response. A way for the dendritic cell to convey more information about what it saw
Which cytokine is initially raised during exercise and muscle contraction? What are the effects?
IL-6
- Reduces TNF from macrophages and therefor reduces inflammation
- Mobilises NK cells
- Improves T-cells
What are the six sentinels of the innate immune system in homeostasis.
4 are non-inflammatory
How does ageing inhibit your natural immunity?
Inhibitions
- Reduced lymphocyte diversity (marrow and thymus atrophy)
- Exausted immune system from chronic infection or scared severe historical infection
Effects
Reduced response to new antigens:
* More susceptable to infections
* Worse vaccine efficacy
Reduced survailence of self:
* re-emergence of latent viruses
* increased cancers
Why does an increasing age contribute to increasing inflammation?
There is an accumalation of danger signals of danger signal that trigger the innate immunity e.g. cell debris, cytokines etc.
What happens in inflammation in metabolic syndrome (meta-inflammation)
Obese adipose tissue is stressed and releases inflamatory cytokines
What cytokines are involved in healthy lean adipose tissue and what are in obese adipose tissue?
Lean:
IL-4
IL-10
Obese:
IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18
What is inflammaging?
Inappropriate persistent inflammation with ageing
What is immunosenesence?
Specific immunity declines with ageing
How to T-cells get around the brain?
They enter through the sinuses, search for immune signals then drain through the lymphatic vessels
How do the intestines keep microbes away
– Goblet cell mucus (gel of glycoprotein + water)
* Physical barrier
* Holds antimicrobial peptides (epithelium, Paneth cells) and immunoglobulin (IgA)
– IgA (intestinal plasma cells) transcytosed across epithelium
* coats microbes and toxins
* shapes the microbiome by selective targeting & supports some symbionts
– Steady state low level neutrophil emigration to luminal surface
What is a key antibody in mucous?
IgA (Immunoglobulin A)
What happens in IBS
dysbiosis (=altered gut microbiota including bacteria, fungi, yeasts, viruses)
* reduced diversity with accumulation of pathobionts (symbionts which cause disease under
changed conditions, including bacteria, fungi, viruses)
– microbes accumulate near epithelium, penetrate into lamina propria promoting
inflammation
– cycles of inflammatory damage, barrier breakdown, further dysbiosis
What happens to your metabolic state during an immune response?
The immune cells switch from a metabolic state to an anabolic state as they are required to synthesise more proteins etc.
What is exudate?
This is the cells, fluid and proteins delivered to tissues by vessels during inflammation
What happens to capillary beds during inflammation?
The become leaky
Blood fills the capillary beds (redness and heat)
Interstitial matrix fills with fluid (swelling)
Perivascular mast cells degranulate & release cytokines through
projections into vessels. Incoming leucocytes take over
WHat are mast cells?
They are a type of sentinal cell that sits in tissue.
They are have IgE antigens and hence are recognised by IgE antibodies. The binding of IgE is a common method whereby mast cells are activated (the one involved in allergies)
Other activation triggers include cold and complement
Once activated they then degranulate releasing various mediators such as cytokines and histamines