Kirrily - Immune Questions

Question 1

Which type of cells are responsible for innate immunity?

Answer 1

Phagocytic cells (usually macrophages).

They take antigens from the foreign material and “present” them to the cells involved in acquired immunity, thus switching the acquired immune response on.

Question 2

Which type of cells are responsible for acquired immunity?

Answer 2

lymphocytes

Question 3

What is the role of B lymphocytes?

Answer 3

They produce antibodies (immunoglobulins) that combine with antigens the surface of foreign cells making them easier to destroy.

Question 4

What happens to T cells with ageing?

Answer 4

• decreased output of naïve T cells
• the production of cytokines, which stimulate the immune response, decrease with age = limited proliferation of T lymphocytes
• proportion of memory cells in the T lymphocyte population increases with ageing, but they become less effective
• CD8 (cytotoxic) T cells responses are decreased in magnitude, that the cells show poor differentiation into effector cells and have fewer functions

Question 5

What happens to B cells with ageing?

Answer 5

Very little or no change to B cell function

Question 6

“immunosenescence” is characterised by:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Answer 6

1. increased numbers of memory and non-functional immune cells,
2. impaired signalling between immune cells,
3. and overall pro-inflammatory environment and
4. dysregulation of the immune system.

Question 7

“immunosenescence” causes older people to experience:

Answer 7

1. chronic low-level inflammation,
2. higher infection rates and
3. more chronic diseases (including cancer).

Question 8

Why are vaccines less effective in the aged population?
1.
2.

Answer 8

1. The immune response stimulated by
   the vaccine may not be sufficient to protect against the development of disease (decreased number of naive T cells to respond to new antigens from vaccine)
2. The vaccine did not contain the antigens specific to the disease

Question 9

What are two major factors that cause ageing of the immune system?

Answer 9

1. Recurrent infections

2. Chronic stress

Question 10

Fill in the blank

______ deficiency causes significant impairment in both adaptive and innate immune responses, and promotes systemic inflammation.

Answer 10

Zinc deficiency causes significant impairment in both adaptive and innate immune responses, and promotes systemic inflammation.

Question 11

What is the association between inflammageing and ageing of the immune system?

Answer 11

With age, the immune system becomes less effective at managing infections and less responsive to vaccinations. At the same time, the ageing immune system is associated with chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of many diseases linked to old age.