Immune System Flashcards

Flashcards about the Immune System

What is the Immune System?

An organism’s defense system against pathogens

What is the Innate Immune System?

The first line of cellular defense that generates a rapid, nonspecific immune response

What prevents pathogen entry in external immunity?

Physical and chemical barriers

How does skin act as a barrier to pathogens and viruses?

Oily and acidic secretions from sweat glands kill microbes.

What antimicrobial proteins break down microbial cell walls?

Lysozyme in saliva and tears

What is the function of cilia in immunity?

Lines the lungs and sweeps invaders out

How does gastric juice contribute to immunity?

Stomach acid kills microbes

What are interferons?

Secreted by infected cells to stimulate neighboring cells to produce proteins against viral infections

What are cytokines?

Chemical signaling molecules used in the immune response for cell-cell communication

What are interleukins?

Specific type of cytokine (IL-1) involved in the inflammatory reaction

What is the function of phagocytic leukocytes?

Engulf foreign particles, bacteria, and dead cells via phagocytosis

What is the function of neutrophils?

Function in the destruction of pathogens in infected tissues

What is the function of monocytes?

Circulate in blood until they move into tissues via diapedesis where they develop into macrophages

What is the function of macrophages?

In tissues, they phagocytize cell debris and pathogens and are derived from monocytes

What is the function of dendritic cells?

Ingest pathogens and stimulate the acquired immune response

What is the function of mast cells?

Function in an allergic response, inflammatory response, and anaphylaxis

What is the function of eosinophils?

Surround and destroy multicellular parasites

What is the function of basophils?

Release histamine in the inflammatory response and are recruited to tissues when needed

What is the function of NK cells?

Attack abnormal body cells, either tumors or pathogen-infected cells

What is the relative abundance of the Leukocytes?

Neutrophils > Lymphocytes > Monocytes > Eosinophils

What is the complement system?

Contains complement proteins that circulate the body and assist in activating the immune response

What are Toll-like Receptors (TLRs)?

Critical to innate immunity and are key proteins that link innate and acquired immunity, recognizing molecular patterns on pathogens

What are antigens?

A specific foreign pathogen or molecule that can trigger an immune response

What are epitopes?

A specific part of an antigen to which an antibody binds

What are antibodies?

Proteins that bind to a specific antigen they recognize

What are lymphocytes?

Originate in the bone marrow and concentrate in lymphatic tissue; primary cells of the adaptive immune response

What are B cells?

Originate and mature in the bone marrow and are activated in response to foreign antigens

What are antibodies?

Glycoproteins produced by B cells that are specific to an antigen and have 5 classes: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM

What are T cells?

Originate in the bone marrow but mature in the thymus, and have antigen receptors

What are cytotoxic T cells?

Killer T cells that destroy by releasing perforin protein and via lysis

What are helper T cells?

Stimulate activation of B cells, cytotoxic T cells, and suppressor T cells

What are suppressor T cells?

Play a negative feedback role in the immune system

What are memory T cells?

Similar in function to Memory B cells

What are Plasma Cells?

B cells that circulate in the blood and release specific free antibodies that dispose of antigens

What are Memory Cells?

Long-lived B cells that store memory of an antigen they have encountered

What is the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)?

A collection of glycoproteins that exists on membranes of all body cells

What are the types of Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs)?

Macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells

How do antibiotics facilitate human immune responses?

Killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria

How do vaccines work?

Build immunity to a specific part of a pathogen by placing a weak end or dead form of the pathogen

Which part of the immune system involves B cells and T cells?

Adaptive immunity