Week 2 - Introduction to Inflammation Flashcards
What is inflammation
A complex reaction of the body to damage to its cells or vascularised tissue
3 aims of inflammation
Expel foreign body/infection if present
Prevent metastasis
Structural and functional repair
5 clinical features of inflammation and their causes
Redness (rubor) - vasodilation
Heat (calor) - vasodilation and fever
Pain (dolor) - pain mediators such as bradykinin and serotonin
Loss of function (functio laesa)
Swelling (tumour)
When are neutrophils present
4/5 hours after infection
Describe the motility of neutrophils
Actively chemotatic
Describe the way neutrophils expel bacteria
Phagocytic (can engulf and digest bacteria)
Can kill
When are macrophages present
12-24 hours after infection
Describe the structure of macrophages
Highly vacuolated because they contain very acidic, degradative enzymes
Where do macrophages involved in tissue homeostasis come from
They originate from the tissue itself
Macrophages that are involved in inflammation derive from what?
Monocytes
When bacteria binds to receptor on macrophage, which organelle transports it’s contents to the lysosome?
The phagosome
Describe how macrophages are activated
Toll like receptors (on the macrophage) recognise pathogens with associated molecular patterns (PAMPS)
These recognise particular features such as flagella protein which is recognised by TL5 which activates inflammation
What are the downsides to inflammation
Sometimes they can be out of proportion or outlive the threat
They can cause more damage than the original pathogen would have as a result
5 examples of conditions in which inflammation is the underlying cause
Diabetes
Cancer
CVD
Arthritis
Dementia
3 causes of inflammation
Physical/chemical insult
Antigen change
Infectious agent
