2.1a Inflammation Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is inflammation?
A tissue response to infection or tissue damage
Inflammation can be acute or chronic depending on the duration and nature of the insult.
What are the 5 steps of acute inflammation?
- Recognition
- Recruitment of leukocytes and plasma proteins
- Removal of stimulus
- Regulation of Inflammatory Response
- Repair
These steps outline the process of how the body responds to injury or infection.
What characterizes acute inflammation?
A rapid process that attempts to neutralize the insult and return the tissue to normal function
Example: Neutrophils responding to bacteria.
What characterizes chronic inflammation?
A prolonged process in response to an insult that cannot be cleared quickly by the acute response
Example: Macrophages walling off a pathogen that can’t be neutralized (e.g., tuberculosis).
What is the first step in the acute inflammatory process?
Recognition of stimulus
This involves the detection of microbes by macrophages and the release of cytokines.
What are the major causes of inflammation?
- Infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic)
- Microbial toxins
- Tissue necrosis
- Foreign bodies
- Immune reactions/hypersensitivity
These factors can trigger the inflammatory response as a means to combat pathogens or heal tissue.
What are Toll-like receptors (TLR)?
Cellular receptors for microbes expressed on various immune cells
They activate the inflammatory cascade by responding to cell damage.
What are Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMP)?
Molecules associated with cellular damage that trigger an inflammatory response
Examples include heat shock proteins and mitochondrial DNA.
What are Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMP)?
Highly conserved pathogen molecular structures recognized by the immune system
Examples include lipopolysaccharide and some bacterial toxins.
What occurs during the recruitment of leukocytes?
Leukocytes migrate through epithelium from blood into the damaged region
This process is guided by chemokines through chemotaxis.
What role does histamine play in inflammation?
Causes vasodilation and increases vascular permeability
This allows leukocytes to slow down and adhere to endothelial walls.
What is chemotaxis?
Locomotion along a chemical gradient
Injured cells and activated immune cells release chemokines that guide leukocytes to the site of injury.
What is a purulent exudate?
A fluid that consists of neutrophils and plasma proteins, commonly referred to as ‘pus’
This occurs at the site of infection or injury.
What is the function of T regulatory cells (T regs) in inflammation?
They switch to repair mode during the regulation of the inflammatory response
This helps to resolve inflammation and restore tissue function.
What is granulomatous inflammation?
A specific type of chronic inflammation characterized by the formation of granulomas
Granulomas are often seen in diseases like tuberculosis.
What are some diseases associated with granulomatous inflammation?
- Tuberculosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Crohn’s disease
These diseases exhibit specific inflammatory responses that can be identified histologically.
True or False: Acute inflammation can lead to chronic inflammation.
True
An acute disease, such as viral pneumonia, may stimulate chronic inflammatory cells like lymphocytes.
Identify key inflammatory mediators.
- Cytokines
- Chemokines
- Arachidonic acid derivatives
These mediators play crucial roles in initiating and regulating the inflammatory response.
What is the significance of understanding the spectrum of inflammatory responses?
It represents a balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors
This balance is essential for effective immune responses and tissue repair.
