Immune System Flashcards by Emily Birch

List 2 consequences of an over-active immune system

Chronic inflammation
Allergy
Autoimmunity

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List 3 roles of the immune system

Identify and neutralise pathogens
Distinguish between self versus non-self antigens
Distinguish pathological versus non-harmful antigens
Repair the site of any injury or damage
Tumour surveillance

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List 3 implications of immune system dysfunction

Increased susceptibility to infection
Increased susceptibility to autoimmunity
Allergies and autoimmunity
Insufficient/incomplete repair
Cell damage and inflammation
Inability to recognise and kill abnormal cancer cells

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Who put forward ‘Germ Theory?’
What does it suggest?

Louis Pasteur
That pathogens cause disease

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Who put forward ‘terrain’ theory?

Antoine Bechamp
That environment dictates disease (i.e, germs are attracted to the environment of diseased tissue)

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Which immune theory helps explain why some people become unwell and others don’t despite the same pathogen exposure?

Terrain theory

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Name the two arms of the immune system

Innate
Acquired / adaptive

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The innate immune system is split into 2 categories. Name them.

External (first line of defence)
Internal (second line of defence)

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The external innate immune system comprises:
1. Physical Barriers
2. Chemical Barriers

True or false?

True

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List 4 barriers within the innate (external) immune system.

Skin
Mucous membranes
Sebum
Sweat
Stomach acid
Tears
Mucus and SIgA
Cerumen
Tissue fluids
Vaginal bacteria

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List 4 barriers within the innate (internal) immune system.

Phagocytes (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils)
Mast cells
Fever
Interferons
Complement System
Natural Killer Cells

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List 4 barriers within the acquired immune system.

CD4 cells
T Helper Cells (Th1, Th2, Th17, T-regulatory)
B cells

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Which arm of the immune system activates inflammation and neutrophils, and suppresses immune activation?

Acquired immune system

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List 3 things that effective immunity is dependant upon

Healthy barrier tissue integrity
Presence of antimicrobial secretions (tears, saliva, mucus, etc)
Probiotic bacteria on epithelial surfaces
Concentrated point-of-entry immune activity (i.e, MALT and GALT)
Mobilisation of leukocytes
Inflammation
Antigen presentation

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Where would you find MALT and GALT?

Tonsils
Peyer’s patches

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List 3 leukocytes

Macrophages
Dendritic cells
Neutrophils
Mast cells

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Are antigen presenting cells contained within the innate or acquired immune system?

Innate (internal)

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Many innate immune cells act as antigen presenting cells to the adaptive immune system, which then supports with a more tailored response to a specific threat. True or false?

True

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After antigen presentation, naive ____________ cells can differentiate into either Th1, Th2, Th17 or T-reg cells.

T-helper

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Th__ cells defend against intracellular pathogens (e.g, viruses)

Th1

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Th__ cells defend against extracellular threats (e.g., parasites)

Th2

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Which cytokine is associated with differentiation of T-helper cells into Th1?

IL-12

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Which cytokines are associated with differentiation of T-helper cells into Th2?

IL2, 4, 5

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Th17 cells defend against extracellular pathogens. True or false?

True

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Which cytokines are associated with differentiation of T-helper cells into Th17?

IL-1, IL-6, TGF-b

What is the function of T-reg cells?

Modulate and deactivate the immune response.

Where do the majority of peripherally produced T-reg cells originate?

In the GALT

T-reg cells produce 2 cytokines which are inhibitory to helper T-cells. What are they?

TGF-b and IL-10

Either acquired pathway (Th1 / Th2) can down regulate the other, leading to a see-saw effect, referred to as Th1 / Th2 dominance. True or false?

True

Th__ dominance drives chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.

Th1

Th__ dominance drives allergies (i.e, asthmas / atopic triad)

Th2

The optimal acquired immune scenario is a well balanced Th1 and Th2 response, balanced via the T-regulatory cells and various nutrients to down- or up-regulate the balance. True or false?

True

List 3 clinical indications of low immunity.

Fatigue Loss of appetite Weight loss Fevers Chills Aches and pains Enlarged lymph nodes

What tests could you run to check for low immunity?

WBC (blood) SIgA (stool or saliva) Pathogen/antibody testing (blood, urine, stool, microbiome)

List 3 causes / risk factors for low immunity

- Hygiene hypothesis - low pathogen exposure in childhood - Bottle fed - Poor nutrition (refined sugars, alcohol) - Nutrient deficiencies - Poor gut microbiome - Immunosuppressant drugs - Impaired barrier defences - Emotional, chemical and physical stress (increased cortisol) - Poor sleep - Heavy metal toxicity - Blood glucose dysregulation - Poor energy delivery systems (i.e, CFS) - Disrupted methylation

Neonates are born with a TH__ immune bias.

Th2 (allergy)

List 3 key nutrient deficiencies you may find in cases of low immunity.

Vit C, A, D Zinc

List 3 drugs that can cause low immunity

Corticosteroids PPIs NSAIDs Immune suppressants (methotrexate)

Why is effective methylation important for immune function?

The folate cycle is important for DNA synthesis and repair

A VDR gene SNP results in lower sensitivity to vitamin ___

Vit D

A VDBP gene SNP results in less effective binding / transport of vitamin __

Vit D

What role does vitamin D play in immunity?

Induces cathelicidin antibacterial peptide Represses inflammatory cytokines

List 3 ways to support immunity

CNM Naturopathic diet Reduce/eliminate sugar, alcohol, coffee Maintain a healthy weight Regular activity, especially outdoors Support sleep Reduce stress Reduce toxic exposure Prioritise GI health

What role does vitamin A play in immune support?

Supports lymphatic tissues and immune cells

A deficiency in vitamin __ is associated with severe respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia.

Vitamin A

Vitamin __ supports the innate and adaptive immune systems. Deficiency = higher susceptibility to infections.

Vitamin C

Which mineral inhibits viral replication, permeability of barriers and increases anti-viral immune defences?

Zinc

Which probiotics can boost SIgA?

Saccharomyces boullardii Lactobacilli spp

Which vitamin enhances the innate immune system, increases T-reg cells and dampens excessive immune responses?

Vitamin D

Which vitamin is needed to activate vitamin D?

Vitamin A Combined use of vitamin A and D reduces inflammation much more effectively and protects tissues from oxidative stress.

Which nutrient, found in medicinal mushrooms and oats, exert immune-modulating and anti-tumour effects?

Beta glucans

Which medicinal mushroom increases immune cells and is cytotoxic to cancer cells?

Reishi

________ is good for use in herpes simplex infection, so can help cold sores.

L-lysine

Which amino acid completes with lysine, so should be avoided if cold sores present?

Arginine

What is cytokine storm syndrome?

Immune hyper-responsiveness. An excess of pro-inflammatory cytokines

What is metaflammation?

Constant low-grade inflammatory state driven by metabolic state

List 3 co-morbidities that significantly increase the risk of COVID-19

Obesity Diabetes mellitus CVD Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

List 3 nutrients beneficial in covid / long covid

Quercetin Resveratrol Turmeric Berberine NAC Vit D Colloidal silver Lugols iodine via salt pipe Anti-microbial herbs - oregano, garlic, thyme, sage

Which tests might you run for inflammation?

CRP hs-CRP ESR Fibrinogen Vitamin D Omega 3:6 Genetic testing

_____________ are locally-acting hormone-like pro-inflammatory messengers made by the oxidation of omega 3 and 6 fats in cell membranes.

Eicosanoids

Name 3 types of eicosanoids

Prostaglandins Thromboxanes Leukotrienes Prostacyclins Lipoxins

Which inflammatory eicosanoid promotes vasodilation, platelet aggregation, histamine and kinin release?.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)

Which eicosanoids are made via the COX pathway?

Prostaglandins Prostacyclins Thromboxanes

Which eicosanoids are made via the LOX pathway?

Leukotrienes

How does the western diet and lifestyle drive chronic inflammation?

High refined sugar increases free radicals and AGEs High omega 6 / low omega 3 increases PGE2 Bacteria in poor quality processed, pre-chopped foods Obesity

What do the FADS1 and FADS2 genes code for?

delta-5 and delta-6 desaturase enzymes (fatty acid conversion)

List 4 risk factors for chronic inflammation

Chronic stress Poor sleep Excess exercise / inadequate recovery Oxidative stress - pollution, smoking, alcohol High toxic load Metabolic endotoxaemia Sex hormone imbalance Persistent / latent infection

List 4 supplements that may be used in chronic inflammation

Turmeric Curcumin Ginger Plant sterols Boswellia Pine bark Grapeseed EFA's (esp. EPA) Vitamin D Quercetin Reishi Probiotics Zinc, Mg, B3, B6, vit C

Autoimmunity is present in healthy individuals to eliminate degraded self antigens but comes pathological if there is a breakdown in...

Self tolerance

Some autoimmune diseases are organ specific, whilst some are __________

Systemic

Give an example of a systemic autoimmune disease

SLE Systemic lupus erthymatosis

In 'Central Tolerance', where are self-reactive lymphocytes deleted?

In the thymus

In pregnancy, Th__ immunity predominates.

Th2

Why might systemic autoimmune diseases like SLE be relieved by pregnancy?

Because systemic autoimmune conditions are characterised by Th2 dominant cytokine production and during pregnancy, Th1 predominates, bringing relief.

Which Complex encodes cell surface proteins (HLAs) and plays a key role in antigen presentation?

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

Dysfunction of what, is associated with autoimmune disease>

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

Why should wheat be avoided in thyroid autoimmune diseases?

Because gliadin in wheat is a molecular mimicker of transglutaminase, which is abundant in the thyroid gland.

List 3 risk factors for autoimmunity

- Emotional trauma (resulting in immune dysregulation) - Infection - Gluten - Environmental toxins - Vitamin D deficiency - Dysbiosis - Intestinal permeability - Gender (female)

_______ is a key food source of molecular mimicry and inducer of intestinal permeability.

Gluten

What 3 things make up the autoimmune triad?

Genes Environment Immune Regulation

________ = a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by autoantibody response to nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens, causing multi-system dysfunction.

SLE Systemic Lupus Erythematosis

List 4 signs/symptoms of SLE

Fatigue Joint inflammation Seizures Renal damage Photosensitivity Malaise Fever Butterfly rash on face

How is SLE diagnosed?

By the presence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA)

Babies are born with a heightened th___ response, potentially predisposing them to allergic reactions.

Th2

What is the key mechanism in allergic disease?

Heightened Th2 response

List 2 things that may exacerbate high histamine.

Poor detoxification High histamine diet

List 4 supplements you may choose to use in allergy cases

Quercetin (anti-histamine) Nettle leaf (anti-histamine) EPA Probiotics Vit D Magnesium Vit C

Immune System Flashcards

(88 cards)