Innate Immunity, Inflammation, Adaptive Immunity, and Genetics

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular adaptation, homeostatic mechanisms, inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity, hypersensitivity reactions, genetics, and ethical nursing considerations.

Homeostasis

A steady, dynamic state of balance maintained by three components: a Sensor, Control Center, and Effector.

Negative Feedback Loop

A homeostatic mechanism that corrects a change to restore the body to a normal range, such as temperature regulation or fasting blood sugar maintenance.

Positive Feedback Loop

A homeostatic mechanism that intensifies a change, moving the system further from the normal range until a definite end point is reached, such as uterine contractions during childbirth via oxytocin release.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The body's systemic response to stress occurring in three distinct phases: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

Atrophy

A decrease in cell size, such as muscle mass loss due to disuse or dementia.

Hypertrophy

An increase in cell size due to increased workload, such as left ventricular hypertrophy from hypertension.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells, such as breast changes during pregnancy.

Metaplasia

The replacement of one adult cell type with another adult cell type to better endure stress, such as changes in the respiratory epithelium of a smoker.

Dysplasia

Deranged cell growth that is often a precursor to cancer, such as a mole with irregular borders.

TIPD

A mnemonic for the causes of cell injury: Toxins, Infections, Physical insult, and Deficits.

Apoptosis

Programmed, tidy cell death where the cell breaks into apoptotic bodies that are phagocytosed without triggering an inflammatory response.

Necrosis

Accidental, messy cell death caused by severe or irreversible injury, where plasma membrane rupture triggers an inflammatory response.

Innate Immunity

The body's non-specific, immediate first line of defense, also known as General Immunity.

Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA)

A person's unique tissue type used by immune cells to recognize self cells.

Self-Tolerance

The immune system's active choice to not attack its own body.

Five Cardinal Signs of Inflammation

Redness (Rubor), Heat (Calor), Swelling (Tumor), Pain (Dolor), and Loss of Function.

Stage 1 of Inflammation (Vascular)

A rapid response during which mast cells release histamine, causing increased blood flow (redness and heat) and capillary leak (swelling).

Stage 2 of Inflammation (Cellular Exudate)

The stage where neutrophilia occurs as white blood cells migrate to the site, forming pus (exudate) containing dead cells and debris.

Stage 3 of Inflammation (Tissue Repair)

The stage of inflammation involving the replacement of damaged tissue.

Neutrophil

First responder white blood cells that perform phagocytosis and die once they eat.

Macrophage

Mature monocytes with a long lifespan that initiate immediate inflammation and phagocytosis.

Basophil

White blood cells that release chemicals (histamine and heparin) into the blood.

Eosinophil

White blood cells active against parasitic infections and involved in allergic responses.

Mast Cell

Cells residing in tissues that serve as the primary source of histamine during the vascular stage of inflammation.

Bands

Immature neutrophils, referred to as the teenagers.

Left Shift

An increase in the percentage of bands in the blood, indicating the bone marrow cannot keep up with the demand for mature neutrophils during severe infections like sepsis.

Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)

A measurement used to determine a patient's actual resistance to infection.

Antibody-Mediated Immunity

A division of adaptive immunity where B-lymphocytes produce immunoglobulins to neutralize or eliminate invaders outside cells, creating Memory B-cells.

Cell-Mediated Immunity

A division of adaptive immunity where T-lymphocytes (Helper T/CD4+, Cytotoxic T, Regulator T) and Natural Killer (NK) cells attack infected or abnormal cells.

Active Natural Immunity

Acquired immunity where the body makes its own antibodies after natural infection (e.g., getting the flu).

Active Artificial Immunity

Acquired immunity where the body makes its own antibodies following vaccination.

Passive Natural Immunity

Acquired immunity where antibodies are transferred from mother to fetus via the placenta or breastmilk.

Passive Artificial Immunity

Acquired immunity where antibodies are transferred via injection from another source (e.g., antivenom or rabies antiserum).

Type I Hypersensitivity

Rapid/Atopic IgE-mediated response causing histamine release from mast cells, with examples including allergic rhinitis, anaphylaxis, and angioedema.

Type II Hypersensitivity

Cytotoxic IgG/IgM-mediated response where the body makes autoantibodies against self-cells, with examples including transfusion reactions and Rh incompatibility.

Type III Hypersensitivity

Immune complex-mediated response (IgG/IgM) where complexes lodge in small vessels or joints, with examples including SLE and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Type IV Hypersensitivity

Delayed T-cell mediated response occurring hours to days later, with examples including poison ivy, contact dermatitis from jewelry, and the TB skin test.

Anaphylaxis

A systemic, life-threatening Type I emergency with pathophysiology including rapid bronchoconstriction, widespread vasodilation (hypotension), and decreased cardiac output; requires epinephrine treatment.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

A chronic Type III failure of self-tolerance where autoantibodies form immune complexes deposited in tissues, featuring butterfly rash, sun sensitivity, nonerosive arthritis, and kidney damage.

Codon

A sequence of every $3$ bases in DNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

An inheritance pattern where a single mutated gene on a non-sex chromosome causes the disorder (e.g., Huntington's disease).

Autosomal Recessive Inheritance

An inheritance pattern where $2$ copies of the mutated gene are required to cause the disorder (e.g., Sickle Cell Anemia).

X-Linked Recessive Inheritance

Mutations on the X chromosome that affect males more frequently, where daughters of unaffected fathers and carrier mothers have a $50\text{--}50$ or 50\text{\textpercent} chance of being carriers (e.g., Hemophilia).

Nondisjunction

The failure of chromosomes to separate properly during division, resulting in one trisomic and one monosomic cell.

Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome)

A chromosomal abnormality resulting from having $3$ copies of chromosome $21$.

Multifactorial Inheritance

Genetic conditions resulting from both genetic and environmental factors, such as cleft lip or neural tube defects influenced by maternal nutrition, folic acid, and chemical exposure.

Non-Directive Counseling

An ethical nursing practice of providing genetic information without influencing the patient's choice.

How many chromosomes do humans have?

23 chromosomes, with two alleles per gene

DNA four bases

Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine

Genetics

The study of heredity

Cellular regulation

the processes controlling cell growth and function to maintain homeostasis

Adaptive immunity

specific and provides long term resistance

Inflammation

Syndrome of normal tissue response to injury or invasion. does NOT always mean infection is present

innate immunity

body’s nonspecific, immediate first line of defense. present at birth and doesn’t not provide long term protection or memory

physical barriers of physical and internal defenses

skin, mucous membranes, and chemical defenses (acid, enzymes)

complement system

helps identify and attach pathogens to destruction

golgi complex

modifies, packages, and ships proteins. it interferes with protein secretions and processing

lysosomes

waste digestion. enzyme leakage can lead to cellular autodigestion

smooth er

lipid synthesis; calcium storage; detox. abnormal calcium handling contributes to cell injury

rough er

transports proteins. can cause misfolded proteins and cellular stress

ribosomes

protein synthesis. dysfunction affects essential cell functions

plasma membrane

phospholipid bilayer; controls transport. damage causes fluid/electrolyte imbalance and swelling

mitochondria

products ATP via cellular respiration. ischemia leads to decreased oxygen, reduced ATP, and cell death

nucleus

contains DNA; controls cell activities. DNA damage or mutations can contribute to cancer

Atrophy

Decrease in cell size (e.g. muscle loss n dementia)

Hypertrophy

Increase in cell size due to workload

Hyperplasia

Increase in the number of cells

Metaplasia

Replacement of one adult cell type with another to better endure stress

Dysplasia

Deranged cell growth

Apoptosis

Programmed, neat cell death. No inflammation

Necrosis

Accidental, messy cell death caused by external factors. Inflammation is triggered

Exposure stage

Target tissue is injured or exposed to causative agent

Latent/incubation stage

No clinical manifestation

Prodromal

Manifestations are mild or non specific

Acute stage

Disease reaches full intensity

Remission stage

Disappearance of clinical manifestations