Immunology Flashcards
(128 cards)
What are the main features of the innate immune system?
- Rapid
- Non-specific
- First line of response
List the cellular components of the innate immune system
- Basophils
- Neutrophils
- Eosinophils
- Mast cells
- Monocytes
- Macrophages
- Dendritic cells
Describe the appearance and function of basophils
- Large, blue, very granular, no visible nucleus
- Low concentration in blood (but only present in blood)
- Parasites and allergens
- Spill contents when needed
- Active in anaphylactic shock
Describe the appearance and function of neutrophils
- Bacteria and fungi
- HIghly phagocytic
- produce toxic substances quickly to kill invading cells and knock down infection
- Can leave blood and enter tissue
Describe the appearance and function of eosinophils
- Similar to neutrophil
- Phagocytic (less than neutrophil)
- can eave blood and enter tissue
- Produce toxic substances
- Parasites and allergens
Describe the appearance and function of mast cells
- In connective tissue
- Tissue equiv. of basophils
- Allergens and parasites
- Highly active, granular
- Produce vasodilators
- Can draw other immune cells closer
- Only in connective tissue
Describe the appearance and function of monocytes
- Kidney shaped nucleus
- Very large
- Clear cytoplasm
- React to most infections
- In blood are monocytes, in tissues different
- Some degree of antigen presenting
- MHC2 on surface
- bridge between innate and adaptive immune system
Describe the appearance and function of macrophages
- Tissue resonant cells
- Come from monocytes
- In infection increase in number
- Larger surface area than monocyte
- Antigen presentation
- More contact with other cells = more robust response
- Good at antigen presenting
Describe the appearance and function of dendritic cells
- Lots of “arm” like projections
- Main function is antigen presenting
Describe the main features of the adaptive immune system
- Antigen specific
- Initially slow
- Based on memory
- Tends to produce memory and antibodies
- ” types - antibody (humoral) response and cell response
What are the cells types in the adaptive immune system?
- B and T
- T-cytotoxic killer and T-helper
What is the role of T helper cells?
- Stimulae innate cells adn B cells to generate more antibodies
What is the role of the innate immune cells in the development of long term (adaptive) immunity?
- Rapid response from immate cells
- Allows acquiring of antigens that antibodies are based on
- B-cells precede antibody producing cell
Define antigen
- Any susbstance which activates the immune response, can be pathogenic or non-pathogenic and can be self proteins
Define phagocyte
Cells that protect the body by ingesting harmfu foreign particles, bacteria and dead or dying cells
Define opsonin
An antibody or other susbtance which binds to foreign microorganisms or cells making them more suscpetible to phagocytosis
Why is it important to have a controlled response to infection?
Too much inflammation in response to infection can have harmful effects on the body
- E.g. a fever that is too high can lead to organ damage and protein denaturing
What is a primary lypmhoid organ?
The organ in which lymphocytes are generated and may mature
- Bone marrow for B cells
- Thymus for T cells
What is a secondary lymphoid organ?
The organ in which lymphocytes react to an antigen in an immune response
What is an immunologically naiive animal?
One which has not been exposed to that specific antigen before
What is an immunlogically primed animal?
One where the immune response is function and can respond to that antigen
What are cytokines?
Factors excreted by cells that will have an effect on other cells
What are chemokines?
Protein signals produced by cells to attract other cells to that region e.g. IL-8, IL-6
Describe MHC I
- On most cells
- used to present peptides to immune cells
- In normal cells produced by the cell
- Recognised by T-cells as being “self” and prevents destruction