Introduction to Immunology Flashcards
What are the physical barriers in the immune system?
Saliva: lysozymes, IgA, IgG, lactoferrin Mucocilliary escalator Gastric acid Normal flora Physical flushing (urinary tract) Secretions (sweat, tears, saliva) Skin and epithelial mucosa Alkaline pH in small intestine
What are the features of the innate immune system?
Rapid, present at birth
No memory, little specificity
What mechanisms are included in innate immunity?
Inflammation Recruitment of immune cells Activation of complement Oponisation Phagocytosis NK cytotoxicity
What are cytokines?
Proteins that regulate the nature, duration and intensity of the immune response
What mostly produces cytokines?
Macrophages and T helper cells
What are the pro-inflammatory cytokines?
TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, chemokines
What do the pro-inflammatory cytokines lead to?
Fever, increased glucocorticoid (stress), hyperglycaemia, vasodilation, activation of immune system and recruitment of other cells
What are the anti-inflammatory cytokines?
IL-10, TGF-beta
What cytokines activate macrophages?
IFN-gamma
What cytokines activate eosinophils and mast cells?
IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13
What cytokines activate B cells?
IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-21
What cytokines activate T cells?
IL-2, IL-4, IL-12, IFN-gamma
Apart from inflammatory reactions, what else do cytokines regulate?
Growth and proliferation
GH acts on bone marrow to increase leukocyte production, e.g. gm-CSF, IL-3
What detects foreign substances/breaches in defences?
Pattern recognition receptors
