Inflammation and immune response Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is a local response of a living body as a defence reaction due to an injury to eliminate or limit the spread of an injurious agent.
What are the exogenous biological/infectious causes of inflammation?
Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites
What are the exogenous non-infectious causes of inflammation?
Physical injuries, contact too heat/burns, frostbite. chemical accidents, alcohol.
What are the endogenous causes of inflammation?
Autoimmune reaction, necrosis, damaged cells, psychological excitement
What are the 2 types of inflammation?
Acute inflammation and Chronic inflammation
List the 5 cardinal signs of acute inflammation
- Pain
- Heat
- Redness
- Swelling
- Loss of function
What is the inflammatory response when a pathogen damages body tissue?
Histamine is released by mast cells and basophils when tissue damage occurs. Histamine causes vasodilation and increased capillary permeability, which brings in leukocytes to the region.
List the differences between acute and chronic inflammation. Include duration, cause, role, and the cells involved
Acute is short-term, and chronic is long-term.
Acute is caused by an infection or wounds/cuts in the body, and chronic is caused by infections, autoimmune disease or exposure to toxins.
Acute inflammation is a protective and necessary response to tissue damage in order to isolate and remove harmful substances and initiate healing. Chronic inflammation can be harmful, contributing to tissue damage and disease progression.
The cells involved in acute inflammation are neutrophils and macrophages, and in chronic inflammation are lymphocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts.
List 5 risk factors of chronic inflammation
- Diet
- Stress
- Smoking
- Age
- Sleep disorders
What are 3 anti-inflammatory foods?
Onion, garlic and dark leafy vegetables
What are 3 inflammatory foods?
Alcohol, processed foods and refined carbs
Define ‘resistance’
The ability to ward off or prevent disease
How many lines of defence against infections are there?
3
Explain the first line of defence
They are non-specific natural barriers that restrict the entry of pathogens. Examples are skin and mucous membranes.
Explain the second line of defence
They are an innate, nonspecific immune response that provides a local response to pathogens. Examples are fevers and inflammation
Explain the third line of defence
They are antigen-specific immune responses, which specifically target and attack invaders that get past the first two lines of defence. Examples are antibodies and lymphocytes.
List the 7 processes of phagocytosis
- Chemotaxis and adherence of microbes to phagocytes
- Ingestion of a microbe by phagocytes
- Formation of Phagosome
- Fusion of the phagosome with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome
- Digestion of ingested microbes by enzymes
- Formation of the residual body containing indigestible material
- Discharge of waste materials
What are the 3 functions of inflammation?
- Destroy and remove pathogens
- Limit effects by confining the pathogen
- Repair and replace tissue damaged by the pathogen and its products
What are B cells?
B cells are antibody-producing cells that recognise and target a particular antigen
What are helper T cells?
TH cells are regulatory cells that release cytokines to activate specific B cells.
What are the 5 different types of white blood cells?
- Neutrophils
- Monocytes
- Eosinophils
- Lymphocytes
- Basophils
What is the function of neutrophils?
To kill bacteria, fungi and foreign debris
What is the function of monocytes?
To clean up damaged cells
What is the function of eosinophils?
To kill parasites, cancer cells and is involved in allergic response
