Understanding the Immune System Components

Aug 3, 2024

Overview of the Immune System

Innate Immune System

  • Triggering Factors:
    • Damage due to bacterial cells.
    • Release of endotoxins leading to inflammatory cytokines.

Cardinal Signs of Inflammation

  • Heat
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Mechanism:
    • Inflammatory cytokines cause vasodilation, increasing blood flow.
    • Endothelial cell contraction increases permeability, leading to fluid leakage.
    • Fluid compresses pain receptors, inducing pain.

Cell Adhesion Molecules

  • Enhance margination response:
    • P-selectins, E-selectins, ICAMs, VCAMs.
    • Promote rolling and migration of leukocytes to injury site via positive chemotaxis.

Effects of Inflammatory Cytokines

  • Cytokines such as IL-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-6:
    • Cause fever by acting on the hypothalamus.
    • Stimulate liver to produce C-reactive protein (CRP).
    • Trigger increased leukocyte production in bone marrow via leukocytosis.

Phagocytosis

  • Phagocytes:
    • Consume bacteria via pseudopods, forming a phagosome.
    • Phagosome fuses with lysosome for breakdown.
  • Neutrophils:
    • May use oxidative burst for bacteria.
    • Release chromatin to tag bacteria for destruction.

Complement System

  • Activation Pathways:
    • Classical (antibody-mediated), Alternative (direct binding), Lectin pathways.
  • Effects:
    • Produces membrane attack complex (MAC) for lysis of bacteria.
    • Enhances opsonization and inflammatory response.

Response to Viral Infections

  • Infected Cells:
    • Produce interferons (alpha, beta, gamma).
  • Functions of Interferons:
    • Alpha & Beta: Stimulate nearby healthy cells to produce antiviral peptides.
    • Gamma: Activates macrophages and enhances their response.

Toll-like Receptors (TLRs)

  • Types:
    • 11 types, with 10 known functions.
  • Result:
    • Signal proteins for chemotaxis, production of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, etc.

Adaptive Immune System

  • Interaction of Macrophages with Lymphocytes:
    • Antigen presentation via MHC II molecules.
  • B Lymphocyte Activation:
    • B cells recognize antigens; require T cell help for full activation.
    • Activated B cells undergo clonal expansion and differentiation.
  • Interleukins:
    • IL-4 (stimulates B cell proliferation) and IL-5 (stimulates differentiation into plasma cells).

Humoral Immunity

  • Function:
    • B cells produce antibodies against exogenous antigens.
    • Memory B cells and plasma cells persist for future responses.

Cell-Mediated Immunity

  • Cytotoxic T Cells:
    • Target and destroy virus-infected or cancerous cells.
    • Use perforins and granzymes to kill infected cells.
  • Natural Killer Cells:
    • Part of innate immunity but similar mechanisms to cytotoxic T cells.
    • Recognize the absence of MHC I or abnormal MHC.

Summary

  • The lecture covered the key components of the innate and adaptive immune systems, emphasizing their roles in inflammation, pathogen recognition, and response mechanisms.