Module 10: The Immune System Flashcards
Where does lymph return to the blood
via the left and right subclavian veins
Lymph Nodes: Definition and Function
- highly organized small organs less than 1inch in length
- optimize pathogen and lymphocyte interactions
- they are concentrated regions of B-cells and T-cells
- become swollen with infection when lymphocytes proliferate
- Function:
- filtration: macrophages to clean up debris
- i_mmune activation_: lymphocytes to search for pathogens and infection
Tonsils: Location and Function
- 5 total:
- pharyngeal tonsils: posterior wall of the nasopharynx
- palatine tonsils: boundary between soft palate and pharynx
- lingual tonsil: base of the tongue
- Function:
- contain lymphocytes that destroy and remove pathogens that enter through air and food
Appendix: Location and Function
- Location:
- at the beginning of the large intestine
- Function:
- contains high concentration of lymphoid follicles
- protect against harmful bacteria in intestines
- lymphocyte source for intestines
Spleen: Location and Function
- blood-rich, soft organ in the LUQ
- Function:
- contains lymphocytes that initiate immune responses to antigens in the blood (blood borne pathogens)
- removes debris and old blood cells and platelets from the blood
- stores RBC breakdown products
- stores platelets and WBCs
Thymus: Location and Function
- Location:
- bilobed developmentally regulated organ in the mediastinum
- Function:
- matureation of T-lymphocytes
- most active during childjood, it stops growing during adolescence and then gradually atrophies
Innate Immunity: Definition and the Natural Barriers
- Definition:
- composed of natural barriers to pathogen invasion and a general inflammatory response that prevents further infection and promotes healing
- Natural Barriers:
- physical
- epithelial cells of the skin and external surfaces
- frequent turnover to replace dead cells and remove bacteria
- epithelial cells of the skin and external surfaces
- biochemical
- secretions meant to trap or destroy microorganisms
- ex: mucus, perspiration, saliva, tears, earwax
- Antimicrobial molecules:
- small peptides secreted by epithelia cells and found in granules of leukocytes that disrupt cell membrane of bacteria
- ex. cathelicidins, defensins
- small peptides secreted by epithelia cells and found in granules of leukocytes that disrupt cell membrane of bacteria
- secretions meant to trap or destroy microorganisms
- microbiome
- good bacteria that compete with bad bacteria for nutrients and block pathogen adherence
- physical
Pathogen: Definition and Examples
- A pathogen is a disease producing micro-organism such as:
- bacteria: living, single-celled microorganism that can reproduce or grow on their own
- viruses: non-living DNA or RNA wrapped in protein that takes over host cells to reproduce
- fungi: living, single or multicellular organisms
- parasites: large group of the creppy crawlies!
- prions: proteins gone bad…
Antigen: Definition
- antigens are any molecule or partial molecule from a pathogen
- cell proteins, carbohydrates, lipids that are part of bacterial cell structure
- bacterial released toxins
- other large, complex “non-self” molecules
Immunogen: Definition
- an antigen that invokes an immune response
- ex. cell proteins and toxins = excellent immunogens
Inflammation Definition and Cardinal Signs
- inflammation is a cascade of events intitated when body tissues are damaged
-
Cardinal Signs
- Redness
- Heat
- Swelling
- Pain
- visible within seconds of injury
Vascular Changes with Inflammation
- vasodilation that causes increased permeability
- deliver leukocytes, plasma proteins, and biochemical mediators to site of injury
Migration to Tissue Injury Site in Inflammation
- migration: cells attracted to site of injury due to inflammatory mediators
- margination: cells move along the wall of the blood vessel
- diapedesis: cells pass through the blood vessel walls to injured tissue
- phagocytosis: cells engulf pathogens and debris at site of injury
Diapedesis
diapedesis: cells pass through the blood vessel walls to injured tissue
Tissue Response and Inflammation
- tissues responses to mediators and cellular changes:
-
to prevent infection:
- dilution of toxins
- activation of plasma protein systems
- phagocytosis of pathogens and debris
-
to prevent spread:
- clotting system activation
- activate adaptive immune reponse
-
begin the healing process
- removal of dead cells, products via lymph, etc.
-
to prevent infection:
Purulent Exudate
- exudate = “pus”
- fluid at site of injury with white blood cells, proteins, microbial debris, and cellular debris
- this is a sign of infection
Transudate
- clear fluid at site of injury which is mainly water filtrate from the blood
- less likely to be infected
3 Plasma Protein Systems in Inflammation
- Complement system
- classic pathway
- lectine pathway
- alternative pathway
- Clotting System
- Kinin System
Plasma Protein Systems: The Complement System
- Activated by 3 general mechanisms:
- Classic Pathway
- Lectin Pathway
- Alternative Pathway
- it is a cascade of molecules released that have many functions in the immune system
- 30 plasma proteins (C1-C9…), made by hepatocytes in the liver, and immune cells
- “complement” or enhances phagocytic and antibody responses
- Attracts Phagocytes: through production of opsonins and chemotaxins
-
Increases Inflammation:
- some of the C proteins are anaphylatoxins
- they cause Mast Cells and Basophils to degranulate→release of histamines → INFLAMMATION
- increased vascular permability
- smooth muscle contraction
- bronchoconstriction
- they cause Mast Cells and Basophils to degranulate→release of histamines → INFLAMMATION
- some of the C proteins are anaphylatoxins
- Forms the Membrane Attack Complex: destroys pathogen directly by putting a large channel in the membrane of the pathogen that disrupts osmotic balance and causes the cell to swell and burst
Membrane Attack Complex
- formed in the complement system of plasma protein system
- Membrane Attack Complex: destroys pathogen directly by putting a large channel in the membrane of the pathogen that disrupts osmotic balance and causes the cell to swell and burst
- pathogen lysis
Complement System Activation
- Classic Pathway: activated by antigen-antibody complex
- Lectin Pathway: activated by lectins binding to specific sugars (mannose) on the surface of the beacterium
- Alternative Pathway: activated by bacterial surface polysaccharides, etc.
Plasma Protein Systems: The Clotting System
- aka Coagulation
- proteins that form a fibrin meshwork at injury site
- stops bleeding
- prevents spread of infection
- traps microorganisms for removal
- framework for repair and healing
Plasma Protein Systems: the Kinin System
- group of proteins, including bradykinin
- activated by factor XIIa from the clotting cascade
- cause:
- dilation of blood vessels
- stimulate nerve endings (pain)
- smooth muscle contraction
- increased permeability and leukocytosis
- limited by kininases that degrade these proteins very rapidly
Interferons
- anti-viral proteins that help cells non-specifically target and prevent viral replication
- released in response to detection of viral nucleic acids
- reeleased from any body cell infected by a virus
- triggers virus-blocking enzyme release in body cells that breakdown viral mRNA
- this inhibits viral protein synthesis
- activate the immune system
- slow cell division and tumor growth in body cells
Functions of Inflammatory Cells (examples)
- recognize a limited range of pathogens or pathogen related molecules
- secrete inflammatory mediators
- cytokines:
- interleukins
- interferon
- tumor necrosis factor -alpha
- chemockins
- cytokines:
- kill pathogens and remove debris
Circulating Inflammatory Cells
- neutrophils
- monocytes
- eosinophils
- lymphocytes
- basophils
- platelets
Connective Tissue Inflammatory Cells
- mast cells
- fibroblasts
- macrophages
- lymphocytes
Neutrophil
- white blood cell
- short lived: 6-12 hours
- pus
- phagocytosis
- lobed nucleus