Week 2 Introduction to Immunology ✅ Flashcards
What are the 4 stairs of the immune system?
Anatomical barriers
Complement/antimicrobial proteins
Innate immune cells
Adaptive immunity
Give some examples of anatomical barriers
Skin, oral mucosa, respiratory epithelium
Give some examples of complement/antimicrobial proteins
C3
Defensins
Reg111y
Give some examples of innate immune cells
Macrophages
Granulocytes
NK cells
Give some examples of adaptive immunity cells
B cells/antibodies
T cells
Give mechanical, chemical and microbiological barrier examples for the SKIN
Mechanical - epithelial cells joined by tight junctions, longitudinal flow of air or fluid
Chemical - fatty acids, beta-defensins, lamellar bodies
Microbiological - normal microbiota
Give mechanical, chemical and microbiological barrier examples for the GUT
Mechanical - epithelial cells joined by tight junctions, longitudinal flow of air or fluid
Chemical - low pH, enzymes (pepsin), alpha-defensins, RegIII
Microbiological - normal microbiota
Give mechanical, chemical and microbiological barrier examples for the LUNGS
Mechanical - epithelial cells joined by tight junctions, movement of mucus by cilia
Chemical - pulmonary surfactant, alpha-defensins
Microbiological - normal microbiota
Give mechanical, chemical and microbiological barrier examples for the EYES/NOSE/ORAL CAVITY
Mechanical - epithelial cells joined by tight junctions, tears and nasal cilia
Chemical - enzymes in tears and saliva (lysozyme), histatins, beta-defensins
Microbiological - normal microbiota
What is the process of typical infection?
Pathogen adheres to skin
Local invasion of pathogen
Innate response
Inactivation
What is the complement system?
An enzyme cascade
Functionally linked proteins that interact with eachother to aid body’s defences
How many functions are there of the complement system and what are they?
3
Opsonisation
Membrane attack complex
Enhance inflammatory process
What is opsonisation?
Labelling
How many complement pathways are there and what are they?
3
Alternative
Lectin
Classical
What do the complement pathways all come together to form?
C3
All proteins have a and b versions. What is the difference?
a - small - pro inflammatory mediator
b - bigger - enzymatic activity
What is C1?
Inhibitor
What is the roles of inhibitors in complement?
To switch off complement
What is angiodema?
Inflammation of derma and submucosa - oedema
What is the cause of angiodema?
Deficiency of C1 inhibitor
What causes C1 deficiency?
Drug induced or hereditary
What is the difference between anaphylaxis and angiodema?
Angiodema is C1 deficiency
What is the definition of innate immunity?
First line protection/defence against infection using non-specific defence mechanisms
Give 3 examples of cytokines
IL-1beta
IL-6
TNF-alpha
What can cytokines affect?
Liver
Bone marrow
Hypothalamus
Fat and muscle
Dendritic cells
What is the effect of cytokines on the liver?
Activation of complement
Opsonisation
What is the effect of cytokines on bone marrow?
Phagocytosis
What is the effect of cytokines on the hypothalamus, fat and muscle?
Increased body temperature leading to:
Decreased viral and bacterial replication, increased antigen processing and increased specific immune response
What is the effect of cytokines on dendritic cells?
Initiation of adaptive immune response