Introduction to Immunology

• What are the roles of the immune system?


  Protection from infectious disease
• What is immunology in medicine concerned with?


  Study of the immune system and its functions
• What is antibody therapy?


  A treatment that uses antibodies to fight diseases
• What are vaccines used for?


  To stimulate the immune system to protect against diseases
• What is cytokine therapy?


  A treatment that uses cytokines to modulate the immune response
• What is blocking cytokine therapy?


  A treatment that inhibits cytokine activity to reduce inflammation
• What is immune suppression?


  A reduction in the effectiveness of the immune system
• What is organ transplantation?


  The process of transferring an organ from one body to another
• What is adoptive cell therapy?


  A treatment that uses a patient's own immune cells to fight disease
• What is allergen desensitization?


  A process that reduces sensitivity to allergens
• Why are microbes considered ubiquitous in nature?


  Because they are found everywhere and are highly diverse
• How do microbes evolve to evade the immune system?


  By rapidly changing their structures and functions
• What are intracellular pathogens?


  Pathogens that live and replicate inside host cells
• What is phagocytosis?


  The process of engulfing and internalizing particulate matter
• What is opsonization?


  The coating of microbes with proteins to facilitate phagocytosis
• What are the primary functions of macrophages?


  To patrol tissues and eliminate pathogens and debris
• What is the role of neutrophils in the immune system?


  To engulf and destroy pathogens
• How do eosinophils contribute to the immune response?


  By attacking parasites and causing damage to host tissue
• What is the function of basophils in the immune system?


  To release inflammatory mediators that aid in defense against parasites
• What is the role of mast cells?


  To release inflammatory mediators and participate in allergic responses
• What is the function of natural killer (NK) cells?

  To kill virally infected or malignant host cells
• How are NK cells activated?


  By engaging activating receptors that recognize stressed or infected cells
• What is the significance of MHC class I in NK cell activation?


  It helps NK cells recognize unhealthy cells by downregulating during infection or cancer
• What are the main components of the immune system?


  • Tissues
  • Organs
  • Cells
  • Molecules
  • Genes
• What are the two main types of immunity?

  • Innate Immunity: Immediate response, non-specific
  • Adaptive Immunity: Specific response, develops after exposure
• What are the steps of phagocytosis?


  1. Recognition of the particle
  2. Engulfment of the particle
  3. Formation of a phagosome
  4. Fusion with lysosome
  5. Destruction of the ingested material
• What are the types of phagocytes?


  1. Macrophages
  2. Granulocytes (Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils)
  3. Immature dendritic cells
• What are the characteristics of neutrophils?


  • Most abundant white blood cell
  • Multilobed nucleus
  • Short lifespan after activation
• What are the characteristics of eosinophils?


  • Found in low numbers in blood
  • Granules contain enzymes for attacking parasites
  • Can damage host tissue
• What are the characteristics of basophils?


  • Found in low numbers in blood
  • Granules contain inflammatory mediators
  • Aid in defense against parasites
• What are the characteristics of mast cells?


  • Not found in blood, located in tissues
  • Similar to basophils
  • Involved in allergic responses
• What are the characteristics of natural killer (NK) cells?

  • Part of the innate immune system
  • Can kill virally infected or malignant cells
  • Produce cytokines
• What is the process of antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC)?


  • NK cells bind to antibodies on target cells
  • Activates NK cells to kill the antibody-coated cells

  
• What is the "missing self" phenomenon in NK cell activation?


  • Loss of MHC class I molecules on unhealthy cells
  • Activates NK cells to kill those cells