Introduction to the Immune System

Question 1

GCSF granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Answer 1

Myeloid progenitors differentiate into myeloblasts which become neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils in bone marrow

Question 2

Monocyte colony stimulating factor MCSF

Answer 2

Myeloid progenitors differentiate into monoblasts which become blood monocytes and eventually dendritic cells or macrophages

Question 3

Lymphoid progenitors, what causes them to differentiate into B or T cell precursor cells

Answer 3

IL-7

Question 4

Giemsa stain

Answer 4

Helps in recognition of different types of leukocytes on a blood smear

Question 5

What makes up the largest portion of white blood cells

Answer 5

Neutrophils 40-70%

Lymphocytes 20-40%

Question 6

Neutrophils have prominent cytoplasmic granules containing

Answer 6

Peroxidase
Lysozyme
Degradative enzymes
Defensins

Question 7

Leukopenia

Answer 7

Reduction in circulating WBC count
Characterized by neutropenia, reduced number of neutrophils
Can be caused by cancer chemotherapy or radiation
Also suspect neutropenia in people with frequent/unusual infections

Question 8

Neutrophil extracellular traps NET

Answer 8

Composed of core DNA element to which histones, proteins and enzymes that are released from neutrophil granules are attached. They immobilize pathogens and facilitate phagocytosis. Can also directly kill pathogens by means of antimicrobial histones/proteases

Question 9

Do neutrophils survive after NET formation

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

Inflammatory macrophages function

Answer 10

Tissue remodeling that repairs collateral damage produced by hypersensitivity reactions

Question 11

mDCs vs pDCs

Answer 11

Myeloid DCs capture, process and present antigens to T cells

Plasmacytoid DCs circulate blood and produce IFN

Question 12

Langerhans cells

Answer 12

Dendritic cells residing in the epidermis of the skin

Question 13

Mast cell location/granule contents

Answer 13

Tissue fixed cells
Histamine, serotonin, heparin
Live for months

Question 14

Basophils location/granule contents

Answer 14

Circulating blood
Histamine, serotonin, heparin (fewer granules than mast cells)
Live for days

Question 15

People affect by Mastocytosis are susceptible to

Answer 15

Itching, hives, anaphylactic shock caused by release of histamine from abundant mast cells
(Urticaria pigmentosa is a common form of cutaneous mastocytosis)

Question 16

Eosinophil location/granule contents

Answer 16

Located in the blood
Histamine, peroxidase, lipase, major basic protein
Protect against helminths
Implicated in epithelial cell damage, exfoliation and bronchospasm

Question 17

NK cells undergo differentiation where

Answer 17

Bone marrow

Question 18

Do NK cell receptors possess antigenic specificity? Do they generate immunologic memory?

Answer 18

No and no

Question 19

How are NK cells activated

Answer 19

They recognize Ags normally expressed on host cells. If the Ag is not present, the NK cell kills it
They function like a cell of innate immunity