Mucosal Immunity Flashcards
What is the mucosa? (2)
Is the cellular lining of the body
Forms the barrier between the external and internal
What is the function of mucosal immunity? (2)
Mucosal immune system functions to maintain immune homeostasis at barrier sites whilst preserving physiological functions i.e. digestion within the intestine, respiration in the lungs
What are epithelia cells? (1)
Define the border between the environment and ourselves
What are the different types of epithelial barriers? (3)
Typified by the intestinal, respiratory and urogenital mucosa
Function of epithelial barriers (2)
Able to distinguish between outside world whilst also selectively transporting significant quantities of nutrients ions and water essential for life both locally and systemically
Immunity at the epithelium is supplemented by what and where is it found? (3)
Mucus
Produced by goblet cells interspersed between epithelium and antimicrobial peptides.
Role of epithelial cells (5)
Epithelium are the major route of infection
Epithelial cells direct numerous components of the innate and adaptive immune systems at various levels
At the same time, epithelial cells secrete, and respond to, variousmediators that profoundly affect the function of surrounding mucosal cell types.
Which components of the innate and adaptive immune response do epithelial cells direct? (4)
Barrier function
The processing and presentation of antigens
The expression of MHC and costimulatory molecules
The secretion of antimicrobial peptides.
What are Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) (2)
MALT is an Umbrella term for organised lymphoid tissue at mucosal surfaces.
Feature of all MALT are the absence of classical lymphatic structures
How is MALT similar/different to lymphatic tissues at other sites? (2)
MALT is similar to draining lymphatic tissue at the other sites however it has direct contact with the overlaying epithelium.
Name the three different regions of MALT? (3)
Gut associated lymphoid tissue - GALT
Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT)
Nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT)
What elicits the B-cell-mediated immunoglobulin A (IgA) response? (1)
The presence of microbes in the gut
Describe the B-cell-mediated immunoglobulin A (IgA) response (3)
IgA is produced by B cells within the lamina propria of the small intestine
Transported across intestinal epithelial cells
Secreted into the gut lumen where it is called secretory IgA
Role of secretory IgA (3)
Microbe interactions in the gut through coating bacteria and modifying their ability to attach to the mucosal surface of the intestine and/or activate immune responses
What happens in the intestinal lamina propria (2)
Immune cells enter the bloodstream and undergo terminal differentiation in the intestinal lamina propria
What is the mucosal immune system divided into? (2)
Divided into distinct inductive sites and effector sites.
What are inductive sites? (2)
These are the organized MALT structures together with mucosa-draining lymph nodes.
What are effector sites? (2)
These are the mucosal epithelia and the underlying lamina propria, which contains stromal cells and associated connective tissue stroma.
What are Microfold cells (M cells) ? (3)
Called by specialised epithelial cells
Transportintactbacteria, abiotic particulates, and soluble antigens within vacuoles across their cell bodies
Transcytosis
What is the intestinal epithelial barrier (2)
Not a classical barrier but does inhibit bacteria from entering tissue
What are isolated lymphoid follicles? (5)
Develop after birth in response to antigen stimulation, by commensal bacteria
Mainly found in large intestine
Contain mainly B cells
Connect to draining lymph nodes, located in the mesentry a connective tissue tethered to intestinal wall
It is the largest collection of lymph nodes in the body
Why are Peyer’s patches and isolated lymphoid follicles called inductive sites? (1)
Because they are directly involved with antigen recognition
Mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyers Patches difference (2)
Mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyers Patches differentiate independently of the ILF and differences between them are imprinted early in life
What are host defence peptides (HDPs) (3)
HDPs are also known as anti-microbial peptides
Cationic so disrupt bacterial membranes
Also made by macrophages and neutrophils during inflammation
Function of HDPs (2)
Protect host cells from proteases, recruit can promote inflammation
What are the three subsets of innate lymphoid cells (ILC) (3)
ILC1, ILC2, and ILC3
Where are ILCs found? (3)
Lack antigen specific receptors (No
BCR/TCR), but derive from the common lymphoid progenitor
Although found in the blood in low numbers, ILC are enriched in tissue
Have a tendency for expansion at barrier surfaces, including the gut, skin, and lung.
Where are ILC1 predominantly found ? (1)
ILC1 are found in the epithelial compartment