PATHOLOGY OF THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE Flashcards
what is the main cell type in acute inflammation?
neutropils
what are the main cells of chronic inflammation?
lymphocyte, plasma cells and macrophages
what is pain caused by?
oedema, bradykinin, serotonin and prostaglandins
what causes a fever?
A trigger of the fever, called a pyrogen, causes a release of prostaglandin E2. PGE2 then acts on the hypothalamus, which raises the temperature set point so that the body temperature increases through heat generation and vasoconstriction.
what are exogenous pyrogens?
Substances, which originate outside the body and which are capable of inducing interleukins e.g. bacterial products
what are endogenous pyrogens?
Substances which originate inside the body and which are capable of inducing fever by acting on the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre.
e.g. IL-6
what is a consequence of failed resolution?
chronic inflammation
what are the consequences of chronic inflammation?
abscess formation
excessive scarring
auto-immunity
what is an abscess?
a cavity containing pus
what is fibrosis?
thickening or scarring of the tissue
why can an abscess be hard to treat with antibiotics?
because the fibrin wall can be hard to penetrate
what are 3 examples of pro-resolving molecules?
Resolvins, lipoxins and protectins
what is chronic inflammation?
slow, long-term inflammation lasting for prolonged periods of several months to years
what is a granuloma?
a small area of inflammation
what is the granulomatous inflammatory response?
a type of chronic inflammation characterised by often focal collections of macrophages, epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells.
what might macrophages look like in granulomas?
unusual shaping
resemble cuboidal epithelial cells
often have multiple nuclei
what is ‘resolution’?
restoration of normal tissue
what is ‘resolution’?
restoration of normal tissue
what is ‘resolution’?
restoration of normal tissue
what is suppuration?
the formation of discharge or pus
what is the pathogensis of acute inflammation?
increased blood flow increased capillary permeability migration of neutrophils chemotaxis leukocyte recruitment and activation
what is malaise?
a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify.
what is the pathogensis of chronic inflammation?
infiltration of macrophages and T and B cells, tissue destruction and tissue repair
describe the microscopy of acute inflammation?
massive infiltration of neutrophils and polymorphonuclear leukocytes
dilation and congestion of blood vessels
exudation of affected area
describe the microscopy of chronic granulomatous inflammation?
accumulation of macrophages which appear like epithelial cells
accumulation of lymphocytes
describe the microscopy of chronic non-granulomatous inflammation?
scattered accumulation of lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells
how do you differentiate between acute and chronic inflammation in tissue sections?
acute inflammation looks messy and busy with what looks like a bunch of dots of all different sizes( because neutrophils has several lobes)
chronic inflammation looks more uniform with dots of similar size
