The Immune System - Essential Key Terms (week 7) Flashcards
state what it is meant by the key term - acute phase proteins (ACP’s)
group of proteins secreted by the liver during systematic response to injury or infection (stimuli for secretion include IL-1, IL-6, and other cytokines)
state what it is meant by the key term - antibodies
immunoglobulins secreted by plasma cells; bind to antigen which stimulated their production and direct an attack on the antigen or the cell bearing it
state what it is meant by the key term - chemoattractants
a general name given to any chemical mediator that stimulates chemotaxis of leukocytes
state what it is meant by the key term - chemokines
a chemokine is a cytokine which functions as a chemoattractant
state what it is meant by the key term - chemotaxin
a chemotaxin is a synonym for a chemoattractant
state what it is meant by the key term - complement
a group of plasma proteins that, upon activation, kill microbes directly and facilitate the various steps of the inflammatory process - including phagocytosis
state the difference between the classical pathway and the alternative pathway for a complement
CP - triggered by an antigen-antibody complex
AP - can operate independently of an antibody
state what it is meant by the key term - C reactive protein (C-RP)
one of several proteins that function as non-specific opsonins (production by the liver is increased during the acute phase response)
state what it is meant by the key term - opsonin
An opsonin is any molecule that enhances phagocytosis by marking an antigen for an immune response or marking dead cells for recycling
state what it is meant by the key term - cytokines
protein messengers that regulate immune responses and function both locally and as hormones
state what it is meant by the key term - eicosanoids
general term for products of arachidonic acid (omega 6 fatty acid) metabolism and function as important inflammatory mediators
state what it is meant by the key term - histamine
an inflammatory mediator secreted mainly by mast cells; acts on microcirculation to cause vasodilation and increase permeability to proteins
state what it is meant by the key term - IgA
a class of antibodies/immunoglobulins secreted by cells lining the GI, respiratory, and Genito-urinary tracts
state what it is meant by the key term - IgD
a class of antibodies/immunoglobulins who’s function is unknown
state what it is meant by the key term - IgE
a class of antibodies/immunoglobulins which mediate immediate hypersensitivity and resistance to parasites
state what it is meant by the key term - activated macrophages
macrophages who’s killing ability has been enhanced by cytokines (particular IL-2 and interferon gamma)
state what it is meant by the key term - antigen presenting cell (APC)
a cell that presents an antigen, complexed with MHC proteins, on it’s surface to T cells
state what it is meant by the key term - cytotoxic T cells (Tc cells)
the class of T lymphocytes that, upon activation by a specific antigen, directly attack the cells bearing that type of antigen
state what it is meant by the key term - dendritic cells
cells that carry out phagocytosis and function as APC’s
state what it is meant by the key term - T helper cells (Th cells)
the class of T cells that, via secreted cytokines, play a stimulatory role in the activation of B cells and Tc cells; can also activate NK cells and macrophages; and bind antigen associated with MHC-2 proteins
state what it is meant by the key term - lymphocytes
the type of leukocyte responsible for adaptive immune responses; mainly B cells, T cells and NK cells
state what it is meant by the key term - macrophages
the cell type that: 1) functions as a phagocyte, 2) processes and presents antigens to Th cells, 3) secretes cytokines involved in inflammation
state what it is meant by the key term - mast cells
tissue cells that bind IgE and release inflammatory mediators in response to parasites and immediate hyper-sensitivity reactions
state what it is meant by the key term - monocytes
a type of leukocyte; leaves the blood stream and is transformed into a macrophage
state what it is meant by the key term - natural killer (NK) cell
class of lymphocytes that bind to cells bearing foreign antigens without specific recognition and kill them directly
state what it is meant by the key term - neutrophils
leukocytes that function as phagocytes and also release chemicals involved in inflammation
state what it is meant by the key term - plasma cells
cells that differentiate from activated B lymphocytes and secrete antibodies
state what it is meant by the key term - T cells
lymphocytes derived from precursors that differentiate in the thymus
