Acute Inflammation 2 Flashcards
(40 cards)
What is the suffix for inflammation and exception to it?
“-itis”
- Pneumonia (lungs)
- Pleurisy (pleural cavity)
What are neutrophils?
Mobile phagocyte which recognise and move to antigen (chemotaxis) and adhere to it
Mechanism of neutrophils
Release granule contents into phagosome (non-specific)
What do neutrophil granules contain?
Oxidants and digestive enzymes
Consequences of neutrophil action
- Neutrophils die (digests itself)
- Suppuration - forms fluid of digested cells, organisms & endogenous proteins
What is the role of fibrinogen?
It’s coagulation factors - forms fibrin which clots the exudate and localises it by stopping inflammation from spreading
What are two important plasma proteins involved in acute inflammation?
Fibrinogen and immunoglobulins
What is the mechanism of immunoglobulins (antibodies)?
- Neutralisation - prevent binding
- Opsonisation - attract phagocyte
- Complement activation
What are 3 mediators?
- Molecules on endothelial cell surface membrane
- Molecules released from cells
- Molecules in the plasma
Effects of mediators
- Vasodilatation
- Increased permeability - leaky vessels
- Neutrophil chemotaxis & adhesion
- Itch and pain
What mediators cause neutrophils adhesions?
Cell surface adhesion molecules
- ICAM-1 helps pavementing
- P-selectin helps adhesion to antigen
What inflammatory mediator is released from mast cells and what activates its release?
Histamine - due to local injury; IgE mediated reaction (allergic)
What does histamine cause?
Vasodilatation and increased permeability - acts on H1 receptors on endothelial cells
What is 5-hydrocytryptamine and where is it produced?
Serotonin and produced in platelets
What activates serotonin’s released?
When platelets degranulate in coagulation
What does serotonin cause and why?
Vasoconstriction to prevent leakage from damaged vessel
What does antihistamine do?
Prevents the mast cells releasing histamine
What are cytokines and chemokine?
Inflammatory mediators which are produced by macrophages, lymphocytes, endothelium in response to inflammatory stimuli
What do cytokines and chemokine do?
Attract inflammatory cells - pro-inflammatory
What are the immediate systemic effects of inflammation?
- Pyrexia
- Feeling unwell (malaise)
- Neutophilia
What is pyrexia?
Raised temperature
What is neutrophilia?
Raised white cell count
What are long term effects of acute inflammation?
- Lymphadenopathy - lymph node enlargement
- Weight loss
- Anaemia
What does pus contain?
Dead tissue, organisms, exudate, neutrophils, fibrin, red cells, debris
