Immune System Study Guide

What are the components of the innate immune system?

Surface proteins, skin, mucous membranes, dendritic cells and macrophages, interferons, the complement system, natural killer cells, inflammatory response

Surface proteins

state what things belong to. If a foreign molecule is present, the immune system will recognize it

Skin

It has a low pH (acidic), so it is inhospitable to some microbes

Mucous Membranes

the trap foreign stuff present in the tracts of the respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tracts

Dendritic Cells and Macrophages

they are antigen-presenting cells to initiate acquired immune response

Interferons

they are defensive proteins, so if a cell has been infected by a virus, they will sound an alarm to alert other cells

The Complement System

it consists of 30 or more plasma proteins and it compromises the membrane of an invader cell, lysing it

Localized Inflammatory Response

1) Mast Cells release histamine
2) The histamine and more white blood cells enter the area of infection
3) Neutrophil gobbles stuff up and releases pus

Systemic Inflammatory Response

Pyrogens cause the body's temperature to increase, inducing a fever. This causes white blood cells to work better

Natural Killer Cells

They look for Class I MHC and release cytotoxic proteins (perforin) to punch a hole through the invaders. Granzymes are also released to program the cell to die

What is an antigen?

a surface marker on an invader that induces an immune response

What are the components of adaptive immune response?

Leukocytes (any white blood cell)
lymphocytes (fighters)- B and T Cells
Antibodies

What are the order of events that initiates an adaptive immune response?

An antigen-presenting cell binds to a Helper T cell. The Class II MHC molecule on the antigen-presenting cell via the TCR (T cell receptor), which then releases cytokines. CD4 is also present on the Helper T cell

Which immune response happens in response to a SPECIFIC invader?

Adaptive Immune Response

HIV infects which type of immune cell?

Helper T cells

Which special surface protein is found on Helper T and helps it interact with the MHC?

CD4

Which special surface protein is found on Cytotoxic T and helps it interact with the MHC?

CD8

Differentiate between class I and class II MHC

Class 1 MHC is present on all nucleated cells and identifies their "Self". Class II MHC is only present on antigen-presenting cells and where the antigen is displayed

What is active immunity? Give two examples?

develops naturally in response to an infection to the antigen on an invader that caused an immune response (army built, memory)
- ex. immunization and vaccination

What is passive immunity? Give two examples

person gets antibodies from an outside source (without immunological memory)
- ex. breast milk and placentas are natural ways
- ex. vaccines and infusions are artifical ways

How are these terms related: B lymphocytes and plasma cells

B lymphocytes recognize antigens on antibodies and differentiate into plasma cells, which secrete antibodies

Which type of antigens does each red blood cell have for each blood type?

A blood = A antigen
B blood = B antigen
AB blood = A and B antigens
O blood = no antigens

Which type of antibodies does each blood type have circulating in the blood plasma?

A blood = Anti-A
B blood = Anti-B
AB blood = none
O blood = Anti-A and Anti-B

Which type of antigen does an Rh(+) and Rh (-) have?

Rh(D)

Does Rh (+) or Rh (-) have antibodies circulating in the blood plasma? Against what?

Rh (+) = no circulating antibodies
Rh (-) = anti- + circulating antibodies

The antibodies of Rh (-) is important if the mother is Rh (-) but the fetus is not. Leakage of fetal red blood cells into the mother's system through minute lesions in the placenta may cause her to produce anti-Rh antibodies.

Antibody

neutralizes viruses by wrapping around them and can activate the complement system

Immunoglobulin

also called antibodies

Cytokine

cause clonal selection for any B or T cell that have a receptor for the antigen

Antigen presenting cell

after they eat the cell they display part (antigen) of the it on their surface, which helps initiate the acquired immune response

Helper T

releases cytokines to activation T cells

Cytotoxic T

specifically kills infected cells during acquired immune response

Humoral Immune Response

activation and clonal selection of B cells, resulting in production of secreted antibodies

Cell-Mediated Immune Response

activation and clonal selection of cytotoxic T cells

Mast Cells

release histamine

Histamine

cause the blood vessels to be more leaky and permeable so that more white blood cells can enter the area of infection

Describe what happens when a generic phagocyte engulfs a cell

eats any invader that does not have the correct cell surface marker

Describe what happens when B lymphocytes get activated

After they are programmed for a specific antigen, B cells become plasma cells to make antibodies or memory cells. Antibodies are secreted

What cell type actives both the humoral and cell mediated response?

Helper T

Differentiate between effector and memory cells

Effector cells are the fighters in the specific/targeted army. Memory cells are used for future attacks from the same pathogen

Why are B cells and T cells called by each letter?

They are both produced in the bone marrow, but B cells mature in the bone marrow and T cells mature in the thymus

What is an autoimmune response?

The immune system is unable to differentiate between foreigners and the system's own cells, so it attacks itself

What do cytotoxic T cell antigen receptors bind to?

CD8

Differentiate between the primary and secondary immune response? Which cells are responsible for it? Why is response time different?

Primary immune response is the first exposure to a pathogen. Secondary immune response is the second exposure. After the first exposure, the person no longer needs the antibodies but memory cells remain. Thus, the second immune response is longer, quicker, and more effective. In the primary immune response, B and T cells replicate and produce effector and memory cells. In the secondary immune response, Memory B and T cells are present to fight the pathogens for a second time.