Lymph notes

Natural killer cells

A type of immune cell that can kill virus-infected cells and tumor cells by inducing apoptosis.

Perforins

Proteins secreted by natural killer cells that form pores in the target cell's membrane to induce apoptosis.

Granzyme enzymes

Enzymes that enter cells through perforin-induced pores to cause cellular digestion and apoptosis.

Apoptosis

The process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.

Macrophages

Immune cells that clean up dead cells and debris and play a role in tissue repair.

Interferons

Proteins produced by virally infected cells that signal neighboring cells to heighten their antiviral defenses.

Cytotoxic T cells

T cells that kill infected or cancerous cells by recognizing antigens presented on MHC class I molecules.

Nonspecific immunity

The immune response that does not have to recognize a specific pathogen and can respond to any invader.

Humoral immunity

A component of specific immunity mediated by antibodies produced by B cells.

MHC class II

Major histocompatibility complex molecules that present antigens to helper T cells to activate the immune response.

Active immunity

Immunity that develops after exposure to a pathogen or through vaccination.

Passive immunity

Immunity acquired from another individual, either naturally (e.g., maternal antibodies) or artificially (e.g., monoclonal antibodies).

Inflammation

The response to tissue injury or infection characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain.

Complement system

A group of proteins that work together to destroy pathogens and trigger inflammation.

Opsonization

The process of marking pathogens for destruction by phagocytes.

Cytolysis

The destruction of cells by the action of external factors such as complement activation.

Fever

An increase in body temperature in response to infection or inflammation, enhancing immune function.

Memory cells

Long-lived immune cells that are generated after an infection and provide rapid response to subsequent exposures.

Vaccination

A method of inducing active immunity by exposing the immune system to a harmless form of a pathogen.

Epitopes

Specific parts of an antigen that are recognized by antibodies or T cell receptors.

Exogenous pyrogens

Fever-inducing substances that originate from outside the body, typically from pathogens.

Endogenous pyrogens

Fever-inducing substances produced within the body, often by immune cells during infection.