Integrity: Immunology Flashcards
(142 cards)
Give brief definitions of each of these molecules and cells of the immune system:
Molecules
* Complement
* Cytokines
* Chemokines
* Antibodies
Cells
* Leukocytes
* Innate cells
* Adaptive cells
Molecules:
- Complement - system of soluble serum proteins that interacts with pathogens to mark them for destruction by phagocytes
- Cytokines - immune messenger hormones
* Chemokines (cytokines which specialise in making cells move) - Antibodies - secreted molecules which bind pathogens
Cells
- Leukocytes = all immune cells (innate and adaptive) Literally “white
blood cell” - Innate cells (Macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, eosinophils,
basophils and mast cells) - Adaptive cells (T cells, B cells) (lymphocytes)
How are the following tissues involved in the immune system?
- Lymphatics
- lymph nodes
- spleen
- thymus
- bone marrow.
- Lymphatics - drainage system for peripheries therefore a good place to scan for problems
- Lymph nodes - collections of immune cells at lymphatic junctions
- Spleen - filters blood so immune cells present
- Thymus - involved in the creation of immune cells
- Bone marrow - where all blood cells originate hence all immune cells
How does the skin provide a barrier to pathogens?
The epidermis consists of dead cells and viruses need alive cells to infect
What is the anti-viral state?
When a cell is infected by a virus it releases IFN-alpha and IFN-beta.
These cause the surrounding cells to enter an antiviral state
- Upregulate antiviral proteins (including more IFNs), and antigen
presentation - Downregulate everything else by degrading mRNA and
inhibiting protein translation factors (suppress viral
proliferation)
What are the interferons involved in inducing an anti-viral state?
IFNα and IFNβ
What are IFNα and IFNβ
They are interferons released when a cell detects that it is infected by a virus and they induce an anti-viral state in surrounding cells
What are the two things you need in order to get an adaptive immune response?
Danger and non-self
Two types of danger molecules?
PAMPs = Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns
- types of molecules only produced by infectious agents
and not host tissue - critical for survival/virulence - Example = bacterial cell wall constituents
(lipopolysaccharide - LPS)
DAMPs = Damage Associated Molecular Patterns
- Molecules released from injured cells
- Examples = DNA, RNA, ATP, breakdown products of
extracellular matrix
What are PAMPs and why do pathogen make them?
PAMPs = Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns
- types of molecules only produced by infectious agents
and not host tissue - critical for survival/virulence - Example = bacterial cell wall constituents
(lipopolysaccharide - LPS)
They are usually critical for pathogen survival otherwise the pathogens would evolve not to make them and therefore not get recognised
What are DAMPs
DAMPs = Damage Associated Molecular Patterns
- Molecules released from injured cells
- Examples = DNA, RNA, ATP, breakdown products of
extracellular matrix
What is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR)
These are the things that recognise PAMPs and DAMPs
Toll like receptors are an example of PRRs.
What do each of the toll like receptors recognise?
- TLR3
- TLR4
- TLR5
- TLR3 binds double-stranded RNA (viruses)
- TLR4 binds LPS (bacterial cell wall)
- TLR5 binds flagellin (flagellated bacteria)
Three pathways of complement activation
- Classical pathway
- Mannose-binding
lectin pathway - Alternative pathway
Describe the classical pathway of complement activation
- This occurs in the presence of antibodies specific to foreign antigens
- The antibodies bind to compliment C1q
- C1q then activates the rest
Which complement is first activated in the classical pathway?
C1q
Describe the mannose-binding lectin pathway of complement activation
Mannose is present on the surface of bacteria and not on any host cells.
Mannose binding lectin then bind to mannose triggering complement activation
Describe the alternative pathway of complement activation
Complement componant C3 spontaineously binds to surrounding cells
Host cells contain control proteins which prevent further complement activation
Bacteria do not
Complement involved in the alternative complement activation pathway?
C3
Describe the process of complement membrane lysis
- Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) forms in membrane of bacteria, this is a barrel-like structure formed from multiple late complement components (C5b,C6-C9)
- Water rushes in, ions rush out, bacteria swells and
bursts - Can also happen to host/foreign cells marked for killing
What is the barrel like structure in complement membrane lysis called?
Membrane attack complex
MAC
Which complement componants are involved in forming the membrane attack complex?
C5b,C6-C9
What are anaphylatoxins?
They are complement componants that cause vessels to become leaky
This allows the flodding of immune cells in the blood to the site of infection
What complement are anaphylatoxins?
C3a,C5a
What is opsonisation
This is where compliment C3b and C4b bind to pathogens and mark them for phagocytosis