receptors and cytokines 2025 26th

What is an antigen?

An antigen is any substance that induces an immune response, typically by being recognized by antibodies or antigen receptors on immune cells.

What are natural killer (NK) cells?

NK cells are a type of lymphocyte that play a crucial role in the innate immune response by targeting and destroying virus-infected cells and tumor cells.

What is an antigen?

An antigen is any substance that induces an immune response, typically by being recognized by antibodies or antigen receptors on immune cells.

What are cytokines?

Cytokines are small proteins released by cells, especially those in the immune system, which have a specific effect on the interactions and communications between cells.

What is the role of chemokines?

Chemokines are a subset of cytokines that specifically induce chemotaxis in nearby responsive cells, guiding the migration of immune cells to sites of infection or inflammation.

What is signal transduction in the context of immune receptors?

Signal transduction refers to the process by which a signal on a cell's surface is converted into a specific cellular response, often involving a cascade of biochemical events inside the cell.

What is the difference between autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine actions of cytokines?

• Autocrine: The cytokine acts on the same cell that secreted it.

• Paracrine: The cytokine acts on nearby cells.

• Endocrine: The cytokine acts on distant cells, typically traveling through the bloodstream.

What is the function of soluble receptors?

Soluble receptors can bind to cytokines in solution, acting as antagonists to regulate and dampen the immune response by preventing cytokines from binding to cell surface receptors.

What is the role of macrophages in the immune response

Soluble receptors can bind to cytokines in solution, acting as antagonists to regulate and dampen the immune response by preventing cytokines from binding to cell surface receptors.

What is the role of macrophages in the immune response?

Macrophages engulf and digest pathogens and dead cells, release cytokines to recruit other immune cells, and present antigens to T cells.

What is the concept of redundancy in cytokine function?

Redundancy ensures multiple cytokines can perform the same function, allowing the immune response to proceed even if one cytokine fails.

What is the significance of the MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) in immune response?

MHC molecules present antigen fragments to T cells, crucial for T cell activation and the adaptive immune response.