Overview Flashcards
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is a protective biological process designed to remove damaged cells and clear threats such as infections and toxins.
Where can inflammation occur? What cells does it involve?
It can occur in any vascularized tissue and it involves not only cells at the site of damage but also the recruitment of immune cells, fluid, and molecular components from the circulation.
What initiates inflammation?
It is initiated when cellular damage (non-apoptotic cell death) leads to the release of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) or the body detects pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).
What do DAMPs and PAMPs cause cells to do?
Secrete a range of signals designed to induce inflammation including molecules that alter the structure of nearby blood vessels and chemokines that promote the recruitment of immune cells to the site of injury.
As a result, inflammation has a characteristic pathology associated with the presence of increased fluid and leukocyte numbers.
What is the aim of inflammation?
The aim of immune cell recruitment is to clear the source of the initial inflammatory signal, and eventual resolution and repair of the inflamed tissue.
What type of cell plays a prominent role in acute inflammation?
Neutrophils.
What happens if the acute inflammatory response cannot clear the inflammatory stimuli?
If the acute inflammatory response cannot remove the inflammatory stimuli however then other immune cells including adaptive immune cells are recruited and a state of chronic inflammation can occur.
What can chronic inflammation result in?
Chronic inflammation can lead to repetitive rounds of inflammation, tissue damage and repair, resulting in scarring and loss of tissue function.
What are the four cardinal signs of inflammation?
What is the potential fifth?
Swelling
Redness
Heat
Pain
A potential fifth is lack of mobility around joints, if that is where the inflammation is occuring.
