lecture 1- overview of immune responses Flashcards
define immunity
set of cooperative defense mechanisms which provide protection from various infectious diseases
define antigens
substances that can elicit an immune responses
define antibody
protein produced by the immune system when it detects antigens
define epitope
portion of an Ag molecule to which an antibody binds
what is the smallest epitope to which an antibody can be made
3-6 aa or about 5-6 sugar residues because anything smaller will be recognized by the body but will not cause an immune response
define immunogens
Ags which can stimulate an immune response
define haptens
small Ags that can bind to antibodies but cannot initiate an immune response (smaller than 4 sugars)
define antimicrobial peptides
small peptides which target pathogenic microorganisms ranging from viruses to parasites
define complement
system of plasma proteins that enhances the ability of Abs and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism
define acute phase proteins (APPs)
large group of blood proteins whose plasma concentrations change in response to tissue injury, acute infections, burns, or inflammation
define cytokines
cell signaling molecules that aid cell to cell communication in immune response, regulate growth and differentiation of all immune cells, activate the effector functions of lymphocytes and phagocytes
define chemokines
subfamily of cytokines secreted by immune cells to induce chemotaxis in nearby cells
define phagocytes
immune cells that have the ability to ingest and digest microbes
what do phagocytes include
neutrophils and macrophages
what are the steps in functional responses of phagocytes
- recruitment 2. recognition 3. ingestion 4. destruction
where are neutrophils produced
in bone marrow
what cytokine stimulates the production of neutrophils
granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)
how low does a neutrophil live once it enters the tissues
1 to 2 days
what common feature do mast cells, basophils and eosinophils have
cytoplasmic granules filled with various inflammatory and antimicrobial mediators
what do mast cells, basophils and eosinophils protect against
helminthes and reactions that cause allergic diseases
where do macrophages/monocytes arise from
committed precursor cells in the bone marrow and is driven by M-CSF
what immunity are DC cells involved in
innate immunity
what do DCs stimulate
stimulators of T cells to induce the adaptive immunty
what are mDCs derived from
from monocytes and differentiated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
