L14-Inflammation Flashcards
What is CRP and what is its function?
C-reactive protein is released by the liver in response to inflammatory cytokines. It can opsonise pathogens and activate complement.
Which is the main cell that alerts the host immune system?
Macrophages because when their PRRs bind to PAMPs this causes release of Inflammatory cytokines.
What leads to tissue mast cell degranulation in an infection?
Inflammatory by-products C3a and C5a act induce degranulation of mast cells.
What non specific mechanism allows macrophages to phagocytose pathogens?
The opsonisation of pathogens by compliment.
What are the effector cells of the acute response and what do they do?
The effector cells are the mast cells that release inflammatory ediators such as histamine as well as lipid mediators such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins
What is the effect of histamine on blood vessels?
Increased blood flow
Increased vascular permeability
What effects do activated mast cells have on airways and secretions?
They increase secretions like mucous in airways
They cause smooth muscle constriction resulting in broncho-constriction
What can generalised mast cell activation cause?
Body wide vasodilation known as anaphalactic shock
Why does inflammation cause pain?
The swollen tissues press on pain receptors and cause pain. Prostglandins also trigger pain receptors.
What causes chronic inflammation?
When the stimulus to inflammation is not eliminated and hence causes ongoing inflammation.
How does tissue repair occur after a wound?
Macrophages clear cell debris and fibroblasts replace collagen and extracellular materials lost by the injury. The clot retracts which pulls the two edges of the wound together and dissolves as the tissue repairs.
What is sepsis?
The systemic inflammatory response that can occur as a result of an infection getting into the blood stream. It can cause a cytokine storm (particularly TNF alpha) which results in dramatic loss of blood pressure.
What are the two methods for measuring the acute phase reaction?
C-reactive protein levels - Produced by the liver in responce to cytokines, increases within 24-48 hours of infection. It is a pathogen recognition molecules that activates the classical pathway.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) - rate at which erythrocytes settle out of unclotted blood in one hour. In presence of acute phase reactants then erythrocytes aggregate and are not as bouyant.
