Immune System Flashcards
Difference b/w self vs. Non-self
Self: Proteins, molecules made by body.
Non-self: Foreign bodies (pollen, bacteria, viruses, toxins)
Difference b/w cell-mediated immunity vs humoral immunity
Cell mediated:
- Immunes cells directed at eliminating and destroying pathogens or cells
Humoral:
- Purpose is to provide host defense mechanism
- Anitbodies, complements, proteins that can direct or indirect with cellular immunity to orchestrate cell injury and destruction
What is tolerance?
The non-reactivity of the immune system to self particles
When does the immune system begin to develop?
6 weeks of age
4 Functions of the immune system
- Support
- Protect
- Vitalize Functions
- Maintain homeostasis
Which immune system branch is the primary defense against bacterial invasion?
Innate
4 processes of the Innate system
- Integumentary
- Phagocytosis
- Killer T-cells
- Responses (cough, sneeze, fever, normal flora, etc)
What two humoral immune protein mediators are released initially by inflammatory responses?
- Cytokines
- Chemokines
- Both result in bringing other immune cells to site of inflammation/infection and cause further inflammatory responses and fever
- Also increase capillary permeability IRT allow other immune cells to migrate and relocate to site of injury
- This produces pain, swelling, erythema locally and potentially systemically
What is passive immunity?
- Part of the Innate structure
- Antibodies given from one person to another in order to provide protection (mainly via transfusion to another person, ie. breast milk)
- Immediate acting
- last hours to days
Which immune system uses specific antigens to strategically mount an immune response?
Adaptive (aka Acquired)
Destruction of organisms and toxins by antibodies and specific lymphocytes
Which lymphocyte is mainly located in the humoral branch?
B-Lymphocyte
Originate in bone marrow and plasma cells
Which lymphocyte is mainly located in the cell mediated branch?
- T-lymphocte
- Originate in bone marrow
- Mature in Thymus
How is adaptive immunity different from innate immunity?
Adaptive immunity is activated by exposure to pathogens, learns via memory (viruses, vaccines)
Innate attacks based on general threats that are identified, has no memory (bacteria, parasites, etc)
Innate is fast vs Adaptive which is slow
Viruses and vaccines are examples of ___ immunity
Adaptive (Acquired)
How do B cells work?
- Circulate via lymphatic system
- Encounter an antigen, which starts maturation process
How do T cells work?
- mature in Thymus
- can only recognize antigens that are bound to certain receptor molecules ( MCH1 and MCH2)
Difference b/w active and passive immunity
Active:
- Pathogen deliberately administered for purpose of stimulating immune system
- On repeat exposure, immune system provides quicker, better response
- Ex. vaccines
Passive:
- Person receives another persons antibodies to help fight/prevent infections
- Short lived
- Ex. Fetus receives IgG from mother, IgA via breast milk, RhoGam
Which WBC’s make up effector cells? What do Effector cells do?
- Monocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils
- Migrate to inflammation in response to chemotactic factors
- Promote killing of foreign cells via opsonization
What is opsinazation?
- Promote killing of foreign cells by the deposition of antibody or complement fragments on the surface of foreign cells
- Done by effector cells
What is the most numerous WBC?
Neutrophils
- 1st cells to appear in acute inflammatory reaction
What is the least common granulocyte?
basophils
Which granulocyte is involved in hypersensitivity reactions?
basophils and Mast cells
- IgE receptors present on both
- release histamine, leukotrienes, cytokines, and prostaglandins
Where are eosinophils mainly located? What do they do?
- GI, Respiratory, Urinary mucosa
- Recruited by inflammatory cells at sites of parasite infections, tumors, and allergic reactions
Which WBC’s make up granulocytes?
- Neutrophils
- Basophils
- Eosinophils