Immunodeficiency

Question 1

When should you suspect an immune deficiency? (2)

Answer 1

When there are recurrent, chronic and atypical infections present.
When there is failure to thrive in children, and they do not meet their developmental stages.

Question 2

What is the role of the immune system? (3)

Answer 2

• The identification and destruction of pathogens
• Identification of self
• Identification of Ca (?)

Question 3

What are the two main branches of the immune system?

Answer 3

Innate and Adaptive

Question 4

What is autoimmunity?

Answer 4

When the body fails to recognise what is self and what is foreign, so starts to attack its own tissues and organs.

Question 5

What is immune deficiency?

Answer 5

When the body fails to get rid of foreign bodies and therefore leaves the body susceptible to infection.

Question 6

What are the fundamentals of the innate immune system? (5)

Answer 6

• It is quick but forgetful
• Broad recognition of foreign invaders (PRRs)
• Stimulates the adaptive immune response through the pro-antigen presenting cells. They present antigens directly to the T-helper cells directly with MHC class 2, including macrophages and dendritic cells.
• Promotes inflammation by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines that increase blood flow to the affected area
• Destroys foreign bodies through the use of PMLNs, Macrophages and NK cells

Question 7

What cells comprise the innate immune system? (8)

Answer 7

Phagocytes
Macrophages
Mast cells 
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Basophils
Natural killer cells
Dendritic cells

Question 8

What does the innate immune system consist of?

Answer 8

The 8 different types of cells, complement cascade for signalling and physical barriers

Question 9

What are the physical barriers in the innate immune system? (7)

Answer 9

Skin
The gastrointestinal tract
The respiratory tract
The nasopharynx
Cilia
Eyelashes
Other body hair

Question 10

What are the fundamentals of the adaptive immune response? (3)

Answer 10

• Slower to start, but has good memory
• Highly specific and is endlessly adaptable
• Tells innate immune response to destroy foreign objects.

Question 11

What cells comprise the adaptive immune system?

Answer 11

B-cells, receptor, memory and plasma

T-cells, helper, cytotoxic and regulatory

Question 12

What are the two responses of the adaptive immune system?

Answer 12

Humoral and cell-mediated

Question 13

What are the fundamentals of the complement system?

Answer 13

There is an enzyme cascade, with 3 different ways to set it off and 3 different functions. It bridges a link between the innate and adaptive immune system
It consists of inflammation, opsonisation and lysis.