Topic 10: Immune System Flashcards

Question

What are the characteristics of an eosinophil?

Answer 1

Granulocyte, bilobed nucleus, red appearance (when stained) and low in numbers

Answer 2

Kills parasites, e.g. worms, plays a role in immune modulation and allergies

Answer 3

Granulocyte, bilobed nucleus, purple appearance, lowest number of all WBC

Answer 4

Releases histamine (inflammation)

Answer 5

Agranulocyte, Small cell with very large nucleus, B and T cells and the second most common WBC

Answer 6

Specific immune response via antibodies (B plasma cells) or direct attack of infected cells (t cells)

Answer 7

Agranulocyte, Kidney shaped nucleus and it is the second most common WBC

Answer 8

Phagocytes, develop into macrophages when migrating into tissue

Answer 9

All body cells have markers on the surface made up of major histocompatibility complex proteins (MHC proteins class I and II). They have little grooves in which they hold fragments from inside the cell or from a foreign cell. These are called antigens. Our immune system will detect antigens and determine whether they are self or foreign. Cells of the immune system will recognise either class I or II.

Answer 10

Found on every cell in the body and they display endogenous antigens which can either be from a healthy cell or an infected abnormal cell. Only one cell is able to directly display antigens from another foreign cell on their MHC class I - the dendritic cell.

Answer 11

Found on the B cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs = macrophages and dendritic cells). They display exogenous antigens

Answer 12

Large, complex molecules that sit on the surface of cells or can also be fragments of foreign organisms or chemicals. They trigger an adaptive immune response if they are recognised as foreign.

Answer 13

Also called immunoglobulin (Ig) are produced by B lymphocytes (plasma cells) and can bind to specific antigens. These antigen- antibody complexes are then either destroyed by phagocytes or MACs or they are prevented from entering body cells.

Answer 14

Lymphocytes develop binding sites to specific non self antigens

Answer 15

Lymphocytes learn what self antigens look like and that they should not bind to them (attack them). Both processes happen in the thymus gland for the T lymphocytes and in the bone marrow for the B lymphocytes. This is called maturation

Answer 16

Antibodies (Anti A and Anti B) plus donor RBCs (Antigens A or B). This is important as it look at whether the recipients antibodies will bind to the donors blood antigens on the donor RBCs

Answer 17

Type of antigen on erythrocytes. There are many different ones but the most important one is D. 85% of the population has this antigen (Rh+) and 15 % are Rh- (don't have it). They don't have it in their blood unless they are exposed to a blood transfusion or through pregnancy.

Answer 18

Innate immunity is a natural resistance present at birth that protects from infection, whereas adaptive immunity develops in response to exposure to foreign substances and selectively targets specific foreign microorganisms that it has identified.

Answer 19

The directed migration of a cell in response to a chemical stimulus, such as a growth factor.

Answer 20

the passage of blood cells through capillary walls into the tissue

Answer 21

Discriminate between infected and non infected cells using receptors that either detect MHC proteins that are self or non self. Infected or abnormal cell MHCs will activate the NK cells to attach to the cell and kill it through triggering apoptosis. A normal cell MHC binds to a receptor on the NK cell that will inhibit the NK cell, it will leave the healthy normal cell alone.

Answer 22

Neutrophils and macrophages recognise foreign antigens on bacteria, engulf them and kill them by digestive enzymes or aggressive chemicals.

Answer 23

Histamine, Prostaglandin, Bradykinin, Complement Proteins, Interferons, Interleukins, TNF a

Answer 24

It is specific = recognises specific pathogens, It acts not just locally but in the whole body = systemic response, It has memory, i.e. after a first infection with a specific pathogens it forms memory cells which can react straight away if there is a second infection with the same pathogen, It involves B and T lymphocytes

Answer 25

Cytokines released by helper T cells help to amplify and regulate both the humoral and cellular immune responses as well as the innate defence responses. In the absence of these T cells, both B and T lymphocytes would respond inadequately to antigens.

Answer 26

Results in cellular proliferation, differentiation of mature effector and memory lymphocytes, and the synthesis and release of antibodies by plasma cells (takes 3 to 6 days)

Answer 27

Results in huge numbers of antibodies flooding into the bloodstream within hours after recognition of the antigen, as well as an amplified cellular attack. Secondary responses are faster because the immune system has been primed to the antigen and sizable numbers of sensitised memory cells are already in place that can start making antibodies.

Answer 28

Are the red bone marrow and the thymus. They are special as this is where the lymphocytes originate and mature (learn) immunocompetence and self tolerance.

Answer 29

Is acquired through exposure to a live or dead pathogen

Answer 30

Acquired through ready made antibodies introduced into the body