Immune System Practice Flashcards

General vocabulary flashcards covering the innate and adaptive immune systems, including cell types, chemical mediators, and types of immunity as discussed in the lecture.

Innate Immunity

Immediate defense processes that we are born with which function to defend against disease without needing prior exposure.

Adaptive Immunity

Immune responses that are trained and developed over time through exposure to specific antigens; these are not present at birth.

Titer blood test

A laboratory test that checks for the presence and quantity of antibodies in the blood to determine immunity to specific diseases like tuberculosis or chicken pox.

Complement proteins

Blood proteins produced by the liver that can neutralize bacteria or viruses, target them via opsonization, and activate various immune responses.

Cytokines

Proteins produced by immune cells that coordinate cell signaling and communication to stimulate or suppress immune actions.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)

A cytokine that targets and destroys cancer cells; it is also responsible for symptoms like body aches and fatigue and can be elevated during septic shock.

Interferons

Chemicals released by virus-infected cells to notify neighboring cells of an infectious agent, acting as a paracrine signal to prevent further viral spread.

Interleukins

A category of cytokines (approximately $29$ identified) used to coordinate, stimulate, or suppress communication between leukocytes.

Cardinal signs of inflammation

Visible indicators of an inflammatory response characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain.

Hyperemia

An increased amount of blood flow to a specific area of the body, causing the redness and heat associated with inflammation.

Histamine

A famous inflammatory mediator heavily concentrated in mast cells and basophils that triggers inflammation.

Prostaglandins

Inflammatory mediators known for inducing the pain response to encourage protection of an injured area.

Margination

The process where immune cells like neutrophils stick to the inner wall of a blood vessel.

Diapedesis

The process where immune cells squeeze through tiny gaps in a dilated blood vessel to reach the site of injury or infection.

Chemotaxis

The movement of immune cells toward a specific area in response to chemical signals from cytokines or injured cells.

Pus

A visible accumulation of dead leukocytes, primarily neutrophils, at the site of an infection.

Pyrogenic

A term describing substances, often from bacteria, that are fever-inducing.

Fever

A core body temperature above $101.4^{\text{o}}F$ ($101.4$ degrees Fahrenheit), which is intended to help immune cells function better and inhibit bacterial growth.

Cell-mediated immunity

The branch of adaptive immunity primarily involving the actions of T cells.

Humoral-mediated immunity

The branch of adaptive immunity involving B cells and the production of antibodies.

Helper T cells ($CD4$)

A type of T cell that possesses $CD4$ receptors and acts as a general or coordinator for the immune system by activating other cells; these are targeted by the HIV virus.

Cytotoxic T cells ($CD8$)

A type of T cell that possesses $CD8$ receptors and functions to directly kill infected or cancerous body cells.

Antigens

Polypeptides or glycoproteins on cell surfaces that act as identifying markers and can activate an immune response.

Main Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

Surface molecules used for antigen presentation; Class I is found on all nucleated cells, while Class II is found on specialized antigen-presenting cells.

Dendritic cells

Professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) capable of cross-presentation, which activates cytotoxic T cells without the dendritic cell being killed.

Effector T cells

Activated T cell clones that go out into the body to actively fight a current infection.

Memory T cells

Inactive T cell clones that remain in the body to provide a faster and stronger immune response upon future exposure to the same antigen.

Plasma cells

Differentiated B cells that function as factories to manufacture and secrete large quantities of antibodies.

IgG

The most common class of antibody ($70-85$ percent) that is small enough to cross the placenta to provide immunity to a fetus.

IgA

An antibody found in secretions such as tears and breast milk, providing protection to infants.

IgM

A large pentamer-shaped antibody that is the first type secreted during an initial infection and is highly effective at agglutination.

IgE

An antibody involved in triggering the degranulation of basophils and mast cells, often associated with allergic reactions.

IgD

An antibody that serves as the surface cell receptor on naive B cells.

Autograft

A tissue graft where the donor and recipient are the same person, such as moving skin from a thigh to the face.

Isograft

A tissue graft between genetically identical individuals, such as identical twins.

Allograft

The most common type of graft, involving a donation between two non-identical members of the same species.

Xenograft

A tissue graft taken from a non-human species, such as using a bovine (cow) heart valve.

Active Natural Immunity

Immunity acquired by naturally getting sick and the body producing its own antibodies.

Active Artificial Immunity

Immunity acquired through a vaccine, which triggers the body to produce antibodies without the person becoming ill.

Passive Natural Immunity

The acquisition of antibodies from a natural source other than oneself, such as a baby receiving antibodies through breast milk or the placenta.

Passive Artificial Immunity

The acquisition of antibodies from an artificial source, such as a plasma infusion or monoclonal antibody treatment.

Hypersensitivity

A disorder where the immune system overreacts to a usually harmless substance, potentially damaging the body's own tissues.

Autoimmune disorder

A condition where the immune system fails to recognize "self" antigens and attacks the body's own tissues, such as in Lupus or Multiple Sclerosis (MS).