exercise and immune function Flashcards
what are the two branches of the immune system
innate - non specific
adaptive - specific
what does the immune system do
defends the body against foreign pathogens including viruses, bacteria and fungi
does heavy exercise help immune function
less antibodies
reduced immune cells
less responsive immune cells
less function of immune cells
what are the innate physical barriers
- tears
- Saliva
- Cough/sneeze
- Muscal membranes
- Skin
- Stomach acid
- Gut bacteria
- Urine
how do the barriers stop pathogens
- Trapped by skin cells or mucus
- Killed by antibodies in tears, salvia and mucus
- Removed by shedding skin, coughing, vomiting, faeces and flushing bodily fluids
what are the cells of the cell mediated innate immunity
monocytes
neutrophils
natural killer cells
what do monocytes do
3-9% of blood
* Type of phagocyte
* Leaves blood and forms macrophages in tissue
* Consume microbes and dead cells by phagocytosis
what do nuetrophils do
60% of blood
* Most abundant immune cell in blood
* Rapid responder to infection/stress
* Engulf microbes by phagocytosis and kill via release of toxic molecules (respiratory burst)
what do natural killer cells do
1-6% of blood
* Destroy virus-infected and cancerous cells
* Produce proteins such as cytokines to kill
what are PAMPs
pathogen associated molecular patterns, how non specific immune cells recognize
what are complement proteins
made in the liver, circulate as inactive proteins in the blood. These bind to antibodies or patterns on microbes/dead cells
what are the two types of adaptive immunity
t cells - cell mediated
b cells - humoral immunity
what is a complement cascade
when complement proteins form complexes that recruit phagocytes via chemical gradients
what do cytokines do
made in the liver, circulate as inactive proteins in the blood
These bind to antibodies or patterns on microbes/dead cells
what do dendritic cells do
process parts of a foreign bodies and present the antigen to cells of the adaptive immune system (T/B cells) in lymph nodes
called an antigen presenting cell
how does cell mediated immunity work
- Type of lymphocyte in the thymus
- Release cytokines
how does humoral immunity work
- Lymphocyte produced in bone marrow
- Differentiate into memory cells and plasma cells to produce antibodies
- Antibodies trap and trigger other immune cells to destroy the cell
what makes t/b cells different
they have memory, can remember the pathogens when they re-enter for a quicker response
what are the different t cells and how do they work
Helper T cells, co-ordinate immune response by recruiting other t/b cells to site of infection
Regulatory t cells have role of supressing activity of the immune system
Cytotoxic t cells, specific killer cells, recognise antigens on surface of infected cells/tumours
how can we measure immune function
Self reported illness
Cellular level –
* Conc of immune cells
* Activation/suppression markers
* Measure immune cell function
Release of moleucles reflecting immune response –
* Antibodies with anti-microbial properties
* Enzymes with a role in phagocytosis
In vivo immunity – Antibody response to a vaccine
how does exercise help immune function
increases the number of leukocytes in blood, the increase is even greater in intense exercise. However, these levels drop hours after exercise.
how do cells act after exercise
immune cells migrate to sites where the body may encounter damage or infection (muscles. Lungs)
what is the open window hypothesis
Cells mobilises during exercise = high function and tissue homing potential, high capacity to leave the circulation
how can exercise stop tumors
primes effector cells, creates environment to inhibit tumour growth, may be potential to collect these cells for stem cells transplants
