LEC 5 Intro to Immunology I

Question 1

What are the key immune system functions?

Answer 1

• Recognition – detection of infection or foreign substance
• Elimination/containment – effector functions (antibody, complement, phagocytosis, cytotoxicity)
• Regulation – limit damage through self-regulation
• Memory – long-lasting adaptive immunity, protective recall response

Question 2

What are the characteristics of innate immunity?

Answer 2

• Always present
• Not very specific
• No memory
• Neutrophils, macrophages, NK cells
• Activates acute inflammation
• Use receptors that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) to discriminate self vs. non-self

Question 3

What are the characteristics of adaptive immunity?

Answer 3

• Must be primed
• Initiated in secondary lymphoid tissues
• Highly specific antigen receptors
• Memory
• Lymphocytes – B cells, T cells

Question 4

What is the activated function of a macrophage?

Answer 4

• Phagocytosis and activation of bactericidal mechanisms
• Antigen presentation

Question 5

What is the activated function of dendritic cells?

Answer 5

• Antigen uptake in peripheral sites
• Antigen presentation

Question 6

What is the activated function of a neutrophil?

Answer 6

• Phagocytosis and activation of bactericidal mechanisms

Question 7

What is the activated function of eosinophils?

Answer 7

• Killing of antibody-coated parasites

Question 8

What is the activated function of basophils?

Answer 8

• Promotion of allergic responses and augmentation of anti-parasitic immunity

Question 9

What is the activated function of a mast cell?

Answer 9

• Release of granules (degranulation) containing histamine and active agents