Non-specific immunity

What is Innate Immunity?

The body's first line of defense providing immediate but non-specific protection against pathogens.

What is Epithelium?

Layers of tightly packed cells forming a protective barrier, such as skin and mucous membranes.

What are Phagocytes?

Cells that engulf and digest pathogens; includes neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and dendritic cells.

What are Natural Killer (NK) Cells?

Immune cells that induce apoptosis in infected or abnormal cells using perforins and granzymes.

What are Interferons?

Proteins that interfere with viral replication and activate immune responses.

What is the Complement System?

A system of proteins that enhances immune responses through opsonization and cytolysis.

What is the Inflammatory Response?

A protective reaction to injury or infection involving the release of chemicals like histamine and kinins.

What is Fever?

An elevated body temperature that slows pathogen growth and enhances immune function.

What is Chemotaxis?

The movement of immune cells toward (positive) or away from (negative) a chemical signal.

What is Diapedesis?

The movement of white blood cells out of blood vessels into tissues.

What are Neutrophils?

The most abundant phagocytes; first responders to infections.

What are Monocytes?

White blood cells that mature into macrophages to consume pathogens and dead cells.

What are Dendritic Cells?

Cells that capture antigens and present them to adaptive immune cells.

What are Perforins?

Proteins that create holes in infected or abnormal cells to facilitate apoptosis.

What are Granzymes?

Enzymes that enter through perforin-made pores to induce programmed cell death (apoptosis).

What are Tumor-Specific Antigens?

Unique markers found on cancer cells that help the immune system identify them.

What is Histamine?

A chemical released by mast cells and basophils that causes blood vessel dilation and increases permeability.

What are Pyrogens?

Substances that trigger fever by affecting the hypothalamus, promoting an immune response.

What is Cytolysis?

The destruction of pathogens by forming pores in their membranes via the complement system.

What is Opsonization?

The process of coating pathogens to enhance their phagocytosis by immune cells.