Pre-existing innate immunity Flashcards
What lineage are NK cells derived from?
Lymphoid lineage (as are T and B cells)
However, unlike T/B cells, NK cells do not react to specific pathogens
How do NK cells recognize intracellular pathogen-infected cells or tumor cells?
By using the imbalance between target cell surface MIC (higher) and MHC class I proteins (lower)
Or the presence of IgG bound to the target cell surface
How do NK cells kill target cells?
By using perforin and granzyme to induce target cell apoptosis
What type of molecular signals do neutrophils respond to?
PAMPs and chemokines
What is typically the first leukocyte to enter an infection site?
Neutrophils
Function of activated neutrophil
Killing extracellular microbial pathogens:
Adhere and phagocytose unicellular microorganisms - afterward - cytoplasmic ganules fuse w/ the phagosome and the microorganism is killed by anti-microbial effectors
Also kills by releasing granule contents and reactive chemical species into the extracellular milieu to kill non-phagocytosed pathogens at site of infection (also contributes to tissue damage)
Stimulate wound healing
Major innate immune cells that kill unicellular bacteria and fungi
Does a neutrophil restore its granules after discharging?
No, once they are fully discharged, the nuetrophils die
Dead neutrophils contribute to the formation of pus
Band cells
CBC
Immature neutrophils
Increased band cells (left shift) indicate the a Pt has suffered a strong, often acute, inflammatory/infectious insult
Seg cells
CBC
Mature neutrophils
Increased segs often indicates ongoing bacterial or fungal infection
Macrophages
How do neutrophils and macrophages differ in function?
Macrophages continuosly recharge their lysosomes w/ anti-microbial compounds and do not die after killing microorganisms
Macrophages also bind both PAMPs and DAMPs
What is the fate of the phagosome after neutrophils/macrophages ingest a pathogen?
Fusions with the lysosome to kill pathogen with toxic lysosomal contents
Endocytic PRR’s expressed by macrophages/neutrophils
Opsonins
Bind to microbial surfaces, including encapsulated microbes
IgG and C3b are important opsonins
Mucus
Branched glycoprotein polymer made by mucosal goblet cells
Major function - retain water and keep mucosal epithelium moist
Binds IgA and anti-microbial peptides (AMPs)
IgA - neutralizes
AMPs - kill
What activates neutrophils?
Local inflammation induced by PAMP stimulated macrophages and mucosal epithelia
Pseudomembranous enterocolitis
C. diff secretes toxin that compromises integrity of the gut lining
Cationic anti-microbial peptides
Defensins
Histatins
Cathelicidins
Found in sweat, tears, and mucosal secretions
Many secreted by mucosal epithelium and Paneth cells
Others are made by macrophages and neutrophils
Forms pores and cause osmotic lysis of target cells
C-reactive protein
CRP - secreted from the liver into the blood/lymph and opsonizes pathogens
Lysozyme
Enzyme that degrades PPG
Found in tears, saliva, CSF, and is secreted by mucosal Paneth cells
Neutrophils also release lysozyme into tissues when they migrate to site of infection
Complement pathways
Alternative path
Lectin path
Classical path
Initiated differently but all three merge at the step where the C3 complement protein is cleaved into fragments C3a and C3b
C3b
Chemically reactive opsonin (macrophages and nuetrophils have surface C3b receptors)
Binds to pathogen surface and marks it for destruction - opsonization or stimulation of the membrane attack complex (MAC)
Pro-inflammatory mediators of the complement pathway
C3a
C4a
C5a
Induce inflammation in infected tissues where the cascades are activated
What activates the classical complement pathway?
Antibody or CRP binding to the surface of a pathogen
CRP binds to phosphocholine in bacterial and fungal cells walls (not to human phosphocholine)
At least two adjacent Ab Fc regions are required for activation - 1 IgM pentamer, 2 IgG molecules, or CRP bind to complement factor C1qrs