Key Area 4.1: Non Specific Defences Flashcards
What can non specific defences be?
Physical and chemical
What do epithelial cells form?
A physical barrier
What do specialised epithelial cells produce?
Chemical secretions, such as acid and mucus which help prevent infection.
What does the inflammatory response include?
Release of histamine by mast cells.
What does histamine cause?
Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability.
What does an increase in blood flow and release of cytokines lead to?
Accumulation of phagocytes and delivery of antimicrobial proteins and clotting elements to the site of infection.
What are phagocytes and natural killer cells?
White blood cells that release cytokines which stimulate the specific immune response.
What is apoptosis?
The advantageous self destruction of infected cells.
What to NK cells do?
Induce cells infected by viruses to produce self destruct enzymes during apoptosis
