Neonatal Immunology/immunosenesence Flashcards
What immunoglobin passes through the placenta? What Fc receptor does it have?
IgG
FcRn (around to grab on to maternal IgG on the surface of placental cells)
What role doe the Fc receptor play in regards to maternal Ig?
Grabs IgG and transports it into the fetal blood via transcytosis
-also protects the IgG in the acidic cellular environment
How does IgA not break down when taken up in breast milk in the neonate’s stomach?
Neonates do not have proteolytic gastric environment; and has FcRn receptor to grab the Ig in breastmilk
What is lactoferrin?
An iron binding protein to prevent microbes form using iron to proliferate
What is the window of susceptibility?
Where maternal IgM levels drop and neonate IgM levels have not caught up yet; IgM at its lowest point(2-6 months)
What is bifidus factor?
Probiotic (passed along in breast milk)
T or F: WBC and other immune cells are not passed through breast milk
False
What are some events that prevent maternal passed immunity?
Premature lactation, premature birth, lack of suckling, failure to absorb, etc
Can autoantibodies produced by mothers with autoimmune disorders be passed along? How long does this last?
Yes (like lupus, myasthenia gravis, etc)
Not long usually, and it is easily treated mostly
What is immunosenesence?
Decline of immunity with age
What happens to lymphocytes with age? Innate cells?
Adaptive goes down
Innate goes up (even NK cell ratio increases)
What cytokine is decreased in aging bone marrow? What would this cause?
IL-7 (keeps baby T cells alive, low=trigger apoptosis)
What ratios of adaptive cells change?
Incr CD8/CD4
Incr Memory/naive cells
What immunoglobin increases?
IgA in the serum and saliva
How well do elderly ppl respond to vaccines?
Like children, not well (lack of protection due to lack of naive lymphocytes)
