Lecture 17: Intro to the Immune System

Question 1

What stain is used to see leukocytes in blood smears?

Answer 1

Giemsa stain

• leukocytes normally TOO pale to be seen without staining

Question 2

What blood cells do CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD20, CD56, and CD14 marker?

Answer 2

T Cell - CD3, CD4, CD8

B Cell - CD19, CD20

NK Cell - CD56

Macrophage/Monocyte - CD14

Question 3

Direct vs Indirect Fluorescent Microscopy

Answer 3

Direct: fluorescent anti-CD antibody

Indirect: fluorescent anti-primary Ab that binds to Ab of CD with low expression

Question 4

What is the most abundant circulating white blood cell in the blood?

Answer 4

neutrophils

• short lived

Question 5

Leukocytosis

Answer 5

elevated white blood cell count greater than 11,000 cells/mcl

• neutrophila is most common type
• common sign of infection (commonly extracellular bacteria)

Question 6

Leukopenia

Answer 6

• reduction of white blood cell count to less than 4000 cells/mcl
• usually characterized by neutropenia (cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy)

Question 7

What is a NET and what does it do?

Answer 7

• highly active neutrophils eliminate extracellular organisms via Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
• core DNA element (histones, proteins, enzymes) immobilize pathogens: prevent spread and facilitate phagocytosis

Question 8

Monocytosis and Monocytopenia

Answer 8

Monocytosis - inc. # of monocytes
- chronic infections, autoimmune disorders, cancers

Monocytopenia - low number of monocytes

Question 9

Mastocytosis and symptoms

Answer 9

• pathogenic inc. in mast cells within tissues
• susceptible to itching, hives, anaphylactic shock
• localized to skin (cutaneous mastocytosis)

Question 10

Eosinophilia

Answer 10

• peripheral eosinophil count > 500/mcl
• most common cause: allergic/atopic disorders
  • infections, certain tumors