Week 1 - Lec 2- Immunology

Question 1

Define the general immune functions of inflammation in the Host

Answer 1

• Prevents AG from invading body unchecked
• Neutralized AG
• Promotes healing and repair from AG invasion
• Limits festering of AG in body

Question 2

What are the cardinal manifestations of acute inflammation?

Answer 2

pain, redness, swelling, loss of function

Question 3

What are the systemic inflammatory responses commonly manifested?

Answer 3

• Fever
• Leukocytosis: increased WBC
• “Left Shift”: Increase in immature WBC
• Lymphangitis
• Lymphadenopathy
• Edema- Swelling: Exudate vs transudate
• Scar like tissue

Question 4

Define the difference between an exudate and transudate.

Answer 4

Exudate: inflammatory fluid in extravascular space with high protein concentration & great cellular debris
• Pus - inflammatory exudate rich in protein, leukocytes, lysozymes

Transudate- Low protein fluid in extravascular space w/ few cells;
• Eg. Ascites or edema due to CHF

Question 5

What are the general physiologic systems that are functional/ or responsive in acute inflammation?

Answer 5

Arachidonic Acid Cascade; Clotting & Kinin system; Complement system

Question 6

What is complement system and what does it do?

Answer 6

plasma proteins that activate the complement cascade & potent defense against bacterial infection
This complement cascade can:
1) destroy pathogens & cell lysis
2)activate or interact with most inflammatory components
3) C3b adheres to pathogens & is an opsonin
3) C3a & C5a are Chemotactic Factors or anaphylatoxins causing mast cells degranulation

Question 7

What is clotting system and what does it do?

Answer 7

plasma proteins that form a fibrin mesh at injured or inflamed areas. 
This will prevent: 
1) spread of infections
2) traps microorganisms
3) forms a clot to stop bleeding
4) provides guide for repair & healing

Question 8

What is kinin system and what does it do?

Answer 8

Another plasma protein system that increases inflammatory reaction.
Bradykinin is a primary kinin which causes
1) Vasodilatation
2) Acts w/prostaglandins to stimulate pain
3) Increases vascular permeability
4) May increase leukocyte chemotaxis

Question 9

Define the difference between healing by Primary vs Secondary Intention?
What are the clinical consequences?

Answer 9

Primary Intention: Wound edges are brought together (suture/ glue) to be adjacent to each other

Secondary intention: Wound is allowed to granulate. Wound may be packed with gauze or drained

Healing and Clinical Consequences:
Fibrosis: Large amounts of tissue destruction and /or damage
1.) Unable to completely regenerate damage tissue
2.) Fibrous scarring occurs in these areas of inflammatory damage composed mainly of collagen.
3.) Functional impairment and or deformity of organs will result.
4. Granuloma Formations
Abscess Formation: A cavity containing pus, an opaque liquid with dead white blood cells and bacteria with general inflammatory debris from destroyed body cells.( i.e. exudate)- Transudate vs Exudate

Question 10

Define difference between Apoptosis and Necrosis.

Answer 10

Necrosis: accidental cell death as a result of severe injury
It represents the summation of cellular changes after local cell death and cell lysis
Most organelles are disrupted with karyolysis(Nuclear dissolution)
Necrotic cells swell and lyse
Damaging Inflammation is present.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death found in both normal or pathologic tissues
Process maintains cell homeostasis
Apoptotic cells are phagocytized with minimal inflammation
Apoptosis is nuclear with shrinkage of cytoplasm
Proteases(Caspases) when activated, will cleave and kill cells quickly & neatly with efficient phagocytosis