Pathology: immunity Flashcards
Natural immunity
- primitive, nonspecific from of immunity
- inherited NOT dependent on previous exposure to foreign substances
- Includes various mechanical factors such as skin or ciliated cells in the mucosa of the nose or bronchus in lung
- Includes phagocytic cells such as macrophages and polymorphonutriphil cell (PMNs)
- Includes NK (natural killer) cells
- includes protective proteins found in tissues and plasma
- complement
- properdin - plasma protein that activates the alternate complement pathway
- Lysozyme - protein found in tears, nasal and intestinal secretions, bactericidal
What is immunity
Protection from diseases, especially infectious diseases
Two kinds of immunity
Natural immunity- born with it /innate
Acquired immunity- develops with exposure
Acquired immunity
-complex system of reactions that evolve in response to foreign matter
-based on specific responses stimulated by substances known as antigens
-Antigen - any chemical substance that can elicit a specific immune response
-Based on the ability of the body’s immune system to
1. distinguish self from non-self and
2. generate an immunologic memory
3. Mount an integrated reaction of various cells
Acquired immunity relies on immunocompetance - the body’s ability to mount an appropriate immune response
Cells of immune system
Derived from stems cells in the bone marrow
- Lymphocytes - T Lymphocytes (T cells), T helper cells (CD4+ cells, marker for cell type), T suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8+ cells, killing bacteria), B lymphocytes (B cells)
- Plasma cells (releases histamine)
Lymphocytes - Primary lymphoid organs
- small cells with a round nucleus and very little cytoplasm
- Derived from bone marrow stem cells which give rise to two types of cells
- The first type migrates to the thymus and matures into T lymphocytes
- The second type stays in the bone marrow and matures into B lymphocytes
- The bone marrow and thymus are called primary lymphoid organs
Lymphocytes -secondary organs
- From primary lymphoid organs, the T and B Lymphocytes enter the blood circulation and colonize secondary lymphoid organs.
- The most prominent secondary lymphid organs include spleen and lymph nodes
- Also include GI tract and bronchial mucosa (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue - MALT)
- T Lymphocytes and B lymphocytes have very distinct functions but difficult to distinguish them morphologically
T Lymphocytes (T cells)
Lymphocytes that have matured in the thymus
- Account for two thirds of all lymphocytes in the blood
- also found in the lymph nodes and spleen
- include T helper cells (CD4+ cells) and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8+ cells)
- Common to all T cells is the surface T-cell receptor (TCR) which is linked to a protein called CD3
- T cells use TCR for recognition of antigens
- TCR-CD3 complex is essential for activity of T cells
Natural killer (NK) cells
T Cells that do not express TCR - CD3 Complex
Mediate innate immune reactions and are not involved in T cell and B cell mediated immune reaction
Their function is to react against virus-infected cells and to kill tumour and foreign cells without previous sensitization
T Helper (CD4+) cells
participate in the immune response to antigens, helping B cells produce antibodies
Express CD4 on their surface
Secrete cytokines (signaling molecule) including interleukins
Classified as TH1 or TH2 depending on which cytokines they produce
TH 1(T helper CD4+ 1) cells
Make interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN) which stimulate macrophages to become phagocytic and mediate the formation of granulomas
TH 2 (T Helper CD4+ 2) cells
make IL4, IL5, IL13 which are important for secretion of IgE and other immunoglobulins and activation of eosinophils
T suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) cells
- Suppress unwanted antibody production
- Mediate killing of virus-infected or tumour cells (recognized by body as foreign)
- express CD8 on their surface
CD4+/CD8+
CD4 and CD8 are used as markers for T lymphocytes and for the counting of T helper and T supressor/cytotoxic cells in blood
-normal ratio of CD4(helper)/CD8(killer) is 2:1
B lymphocytes
- Lymphocytes that differentiates into antibody-producing plasma cells when stimulated by antigens
- an antibody is a protein produced by plasma cells in response to stimulation by an antigen
- antibodies are produced to help fight against antigens
Plasma cells
Fully differentiated descendants of B lymphocytes
Oval shape and eccentrically located round nucleus
Cytoplasm contains an abundance of ribosomes and RER (Rough endoplasmic reticulum)
RER is the site of synthesis of antibodies, the primary secretory products of plasma cells
Antibodies
Proteins of the immunoglobulin class that are secreted by plasma cells
Each antibody is made up of about 110 amino acids
Includes IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM
IgM
Composed of five basic units
-functions to neutralize microorganisms
-The largest immunoglobulin
-Their first immunoglobulin to appear after immunization
-natural antibody against blood group ABO antigens
-complement activator
Mega - most largest!
IgG
Smallest immunoglobulin
-The most abundant
-produced in small amount on initial immunization, but production is boosted on re-exposure to antigen
-can cross placenta
-act as opsonin (opsonization…coats bacteria and make them taste better and facilitates their phagocytosis)
SMALL GOURMET
IgA
Found in mucosal secretions (tears, nasal secretions), milk, intestinal contents
Ace it, 1st line of defense!