Introduction to Immunology

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of the immune system?

Regulate blood pressure

Recognize and combat pathogens (correct)

Facilitate digestion

Stimulate muscle growth

What can occur if the immune system is faulty?

Increased energy levels

Improved cognitive function

Development of diseases such as allergies and autoimmunity (correct)

Enhanced athletic performance

How does the immune system contribute to healing?

By producing hormones for muscle repair

By destroying pathogens and repairing wounds (correct)

By increasing metabolic rate

By regulating body temperature

What can make normally harmless bacteria dangerous?

A dysfunctional immune system (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which components are involved in the immune system's defense mechanism?

Organs, cells, and proteins (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of antigens in the immune system?

To trigger an immune response and antibody production (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes innate immunity?

First line defense that is nonspecific and generic (D) Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates adaptive immunity from innate immunity?

Adaptive immunity is slower and includes immunological memory (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which cells are primarily responsible for displaying antigens to lymphocytes?

Antigen presenting cells (APCs) (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the innate immune response?

It provides specific responses to pathogens. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role do B lymphocytes play in the immune system?

Producing antibodies for humoral immunity (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the immune system is primarily involved in the 'learned' response?

Adaptive immunity (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of IgA produced in mucosa?

To bind and neutralize microbes (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cells in the epidermis act as sentinels in the cutaneous immune system?

Langerhans cells (A) Signup and view all the answers

What cell type is NOT found in the dermis as part of the cutaneous immune system?

Keratinocytes (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about intraepithelial lymphocytes is correct?

They are a type of T cell located in the epidermis. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In addition to IgA, what other immune cells are primarily found in the mucosal tissues?

B cells and macrophages (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of the epidermis?

T cells (A) Signup and view all the answers

What function do dendritic cells serve in the immune system?

Act as sentinels and present antigens (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which immune response is primarily localized in mucosal tissues?

Mucosal immunity (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of cell is primarily responsible for signaling during an immune response within the skin?

Langerhans cells (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which cells are primarily responsible for presenting antigens to T cells?

Macrophages (B), Dendritic cells (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key function of natural killer (NK) cells?

Recognize and kill infected or stressed cells (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which cytokine is secreted by NK cells to activate macrophages?

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (A) Signup and view all the answers

How do macrophages enhance NK cell activity?

By producing IL-12 (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the innate immune system is correct?

It includes both humoral components and cellular responses. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Natural killer cells constitute approximately what percentage of blood lymphocytes?

10% (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role do dendritic cells play within the immune system?

Sense microbes and stimulate adaptive immune responses (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the major function of neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages within the innate immune system?

Phagocytosis (B) Signup and view all the answers

How do cells of the innate immune system interact with cells of the adaptive immune system?

By priming the adaptive immune response (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The module covers immunology, a crucial subject
The content is from Dr Cristina Keightley
Key reference: Chapter 1 – Introduction to the immune system in Abbas et al. 7th Ed.

Module Overview

The module is divided into modules
Module 1 provides an overview of innate immunity, cells, and barrier immunity
Module 2 covers pathogen recognition and cells involved in the innate response
Module 3 focuses on antigen presentation and the immune synapse
Module 4 discusses immunopharmacology and the innate immune system, including glucocorticoids
Module 5 explains cell development, clonal diversity, and tolerance

What is Immunology and Why is it Important?

Immunology is the science of defense
The immune system defends against infections, using different lines of defence
It's a complex system of organs, cells and proteins which communicate and coordinate.
A faulty immune system can result in diseases like allergies, autoimmunity, and cancers.

The Immune System - What and How?

The immune system recognizes and fights diverse threats (microorganisms, toxins, and cancers)
It repairs wounds.
It differentiates between self (body) and non-self (everything else)
It operates with two branches: innate (natural) and adaptive (learned) immunity.

The Immune System and Disease: A Two-Edged Sword

The immune system defends against infection and tumors
It plays a role in tissue regeneration and inflammation
It's vital for recognizing and reacting to injuries and foreign grafts.
A malfunctioning immune system can lead to various diseases, infections, allergies, autoimmune disorders, and difficulties in transplantation.

Defense Against Infection – Vaccination

Effective vaccinations have dramatically reduced cases of various diseases
Examples include diphtheria, measles, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella, tetanus, and others
Data is from US vaccination programs.

Pandemics and Immunology

Pandemics highlight the importance of understanding immunology, as diseases are recurrent.
Historical data on notable pandemics is provided

Advances in Immunology and Immunopharmacology

Immunopharmacology studies immune regulation by drugs and therapies to modify immune function effectively.
Advances include new approaches to treating disorders, allergies, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Immunopharmacotherapy

Immunomodulators are drugs used to modify the immune system.
Immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclosporin) are used for transplants
Immunostimulants like vaccines (bacterial and viral) and immune checkpoint inhibitors are used in diverse applications.

Cell-Based Immunotherapy

CAR-T cells, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, engineered TCR therapy, and NK cell therapy are cell therapies for treating diseases
These therapies are used in various applications.

Therapeutic Applications

Autoimmune diseases involve antibodies against self-tissues, including thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis, type I diabetes, and glomerulonephritis
Organ and tissue transplantation, such as kidney, heart, bone marrow transplantation, and pancreatic islet transplantation
Cancer is another area where immune modulation is applied.

Summary

Recognizes, combats various threats, including microorganisms and toxins
Destroys pathogens and dysregulated self (such as cancers)
Repairs wounds
Has two main branches (innate and adaptive)
Important for defending against pathogens and dealing with immune-related diseases.

Innate Immunity: Epithelial Barriers

Epithelial barriers like skin and mucosa provide a physical defence against infection
Physical and chemical components of these layers contribute
Microbes and beneficial commensal bacteria are present.

Innate Immunity: Cells of the innate immune system

The innate immune system employs different cells to combat infection.
Included in this system are neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and mast cells.

Innate Immunity: Humoral Components

Humoral components of the innate system include complement proteins and cytokines
Complement proteins assist in neutralizing threats, and cytokines facilitate communication and regulation within the system

.### What is the Complement System?

A system of proteins that helps the immune system by enhancing the ability of antibodies to destroy pathogens
Proteins are primarily made by the liver
They are mainly inactive until triggered by infection
Some components are directly activated by pathogens, leading to rapid responses.

Complement System Function

Complement involves activation through different pathways to produce C3b
Early steps include inflammation, pathogen coating (opsonization)
Late steps cover phagocytosis or lysis (destruction) by immune system cells.

Cytokines of the Innate Immune System

Cytokines are soluble proteins that send signals from one cell to another
Many immune cells use cytokines
Includes TNF, interleukins, interferons, and growth factors such as colony-stimulating factors

Functions of Cytokines in Innate Immunity

Cytokines control immune activity by influencing cell recruitment and other critical functions
TNF and IL-1 play roles in fever, inflammatory responses, and regulating blood pressure
Many other cytokines have crucial roles in immune responses.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of immunology in this quiz based on Chapter 1 from Abbas et al. 7th Ed. Learn about innate immunity, pathogen recognition, and the complexity of the immune system. Test your knowledge on the mechanisms that protect the body from infections and related diseases.

Introduction to Immunology - Chapter 1 Overview

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