lOMoAR cPSD| 63316909
NUR114 Immunity & Cellular Regulation Study Guide
Overview of the Immune System
1. Lymphoid System:
• Maintains fluid levels in our body tissues by removing all fluids that leak out of our
blood vessels.
2. Central lymphoid organs:
• Thymus and bone marrow
What does the spleen do?
• Fights invading germs in the blood
• Controls the level of blood cells (WBC,RBC, and platlets)
• Filter the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells What
purpose does the bone marrow have?
• Releases blood cells into the bloodstream when they are mature and when
required. Without bone marrow, our bodies could not produce the white cells we
need to fight infection, the red blood cells we need to carry oxygen, and the
platelets we need to stop bleeding.
Antibody (humoral immunity) vs. Cell mediated immunity:
• Antibody (humoral immunity) produced antigen-specific antibodies and primarily
driven by B cells.
• Cell mediated immunity does not depend on antibodies for its adaptive immune
functions and is primarily driven by mature T cells, macrophages and the
release of cytokines in response to an antigen.
Changes in immune Function related to aging
In relation to Inflammation?
• Reduced neutrophil function (neutrophil coutns may be normal, but activity is
reduced, increasing the risk of infection)
• Leukocytosis does not occur during acute infection (patients may have an
infection but not show expected changes it WBC)
• Older adults may not have a fever during inflammatory or infectious episodes (not
only is there potential loss of protection through inflammation, but also minor
infections may be overlooked until the patient becomes severely infected or
septic)
In relation to Antibody Mediated immunity?
, lOMoAR cPSD| 63316909
• Total number of B-lymphocytes and their ability to mature into antibody-secreting
cells are diminished. ( older adults are less able to make new antibodies in
response to the presence of new antigens)
• the natural antibody response to antigens declines and the amount of time
formed antibodies remain present is reduced (older adults may not have
sufficient antibodies to provide protection when they are re-exposed to
microorganisms against which they already generated antibodies)
In relation to Cell-mediated immunity?
• The number of circulating T-lymphocytes decreases (skin test for TB may have
falsely negative results. Older patients are more at risk for bacterial and fungal
infections, especially on the skin and mucous membranes, in the respiratory
tract, and in the genitourinary tract)
. Humoral Immunity:
a. B lymphocytes mature where?
• Bone marrow
b. Activated B lymphocytes differentiate into?
• Plasma cells
c. What do memory cells do?
• Remember antigens, so that if they appear in your body in the future, your immune
system can mount a defense quickly.
d. What do plasma cells do?
• Secrete immunoglobulin or antibodies
5. Cell Mediated Immunity:
a. T-lymphocytes:
• Recognize a specific histocompatibility complex, a group of proteins, that participate in
autoimmune recognition and tissue rejection, and bind them to elicit an immune
response.
b. Protein markers on the surface of T-cell help define specific function receptor sites.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 63316909
c. T-lymphoytes help protect the body from bacteria, viral, and fungal injections. Humoral
immunity is considered the long term process.
d. Cell-mediated immunity is responsible for the mediation of transplant rejection.
6. Other Immune System Participants:
a. Natural killer cell:
• White blood cells that destroy infected and diseased cells, like cancer cells
b. Cytokines:
• Small hormone-like proteins produced by many WBCs that help modify inflammation and
immunity (also referred to as lymphokines and monokines). Examples: interleukins, TNF,
and interferons
7. Complement System:
a. Group of proteins that are activated in sequential order to provide a link to the humoral
response
b. IgG and IgM are responsible for activating the complement cascade
c. Complement assays diagnose immunodeficiency and autoimmune disease
8. Biological Response Modifiers (BRM’s)
a. Group of substances that can elicit, modify, and restore biological response between
individual and tumor cells.
Examples:
Monoclonal antibodies:
• monoclonal antibody therapy combines actions from immunotherapy and targeted
therapy to help treat specific cancers. The body normally responds to foreign substances
by producing antibodies. These proteins are able to target the antigen when present in
the body, attacking and destroying the foreign antigen (non-self cells)
Colony stimulating factors:
• used as supportive therapy during chemotherapy by enhancing recovery of bone marrow
function after treatment-induced myelosuppression (growth factors).
How do Neutrophils function in Inflammation? Macrophages? Monocytes? Eosinophils?
Basophils? Tissue mast cells? Complement?
NUR114 Immunity & Cellular Regulation Study Guide
Overview of the Immune System
1. Lymphoid System:
• Maintains fluid levels in our body tissues by removing all fluids that leak out of our
blood vessels.
2. Central lymphoid organs:
• Thymus and bone marrow
What does the spleen do?
• Fights invading germs in the blood
• Controls the level of blood cells (WBC,RBC, and platlets)
• Filter the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells What
purpose does the bone marrow have?
• Releases blood cells into the bloodstream when they are mature and when
required. Without bone marrow, our bodies could not produce the white cells we
need to fight infection, the red blood cells we need to carry oxygen, and the
platelets we need to stop bleeding.
Antibody (humoral immunity) vs. Cell mediated immunity:
• Antibody (humoral immunity) produced antigen-specific antibodies and primarily
driven by B cells.
• Cell mediated immunity does not depend on antibodies for its adaptive immune
functions and is primarily driven by mature T cells, macrophages and the
release of cytokines in response to an antigen.
Changes in immune Function related to aging
In relation to Inflammation?
• Reduced neutrophil function (neutrophil coutns may be normal, but activity is
reduced, increasing the risk of infection)
• Leukocytosis does not occur during acute infection (patients may have an
infection but not show expected changes it WBC)
• Older adults may not have a fever during inflammatory or infectious episodes (not
only is there potential loss of protection through inflammation, but also minor
infections may be overlooked until the patient becomes severely infected or
septic)
In relation to Antibody Mediated immunity?
, lOMoAR cPSD| 63316909
• Total number of B-lymphocytes and their ability to mature into antibody-secreting
cells are diminished. ( older adults are less able to make new antibodies in
response to the presence of new antigens)
• the natural antibody response to antigens declines and the amount of time
formed antibodies remain present is reduced (older adults may not have
sufficient antibodies to provide protection when they are re-exposed to
microorganisms against which they already generated antibodies)
In relation to Cell-mediated immunity?
• The number of circulating T-lymphocytes decreases (skin test for TB may have
falsely negative results. Older patients are more at risk for bacterial and fungal
infections, especially on the skin and mucous membranes, in the respiratory
tract, and in the genitourinary tract)
. Humoral Immunity:
a. B lymphocytes mature where?
• Bone marrow
b. Activated B lymphocytes differentiate into?
• Plasma cells
c. What do memory cells do?
• Remember antigens, so that if they appear in your body in the future, your immune
system can mount a defense quickly.
d. What do plasma cells do?
• Secrete immunoglobulin or antibodies
5. Cell Mediated Immunity:
a. T-lymphocytes:
• Recognize a specific histocompatibility complex, a group of proteins, that participate in
autoimmune recognition and tissue rejection, and bind them to elicit an immune
response.
b. Protein markers on the surface of T-cell help define specific function receptor sites.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 63316909
c. T-lymphoytes help protect the body from bacteria, viral, and fungal injections. Humoral
immunity is considered the long term process.
d. Cell-mediated immunity is responsible for the mediation of transplant rejection.
6. Other Immune System Participants:
a. Natural killer cell:
• White blood cells that destroy infected and diseased cells, like cancer cells
b. Cytokines:
• Small hormone-like proteins produced by many WBCs that help modify inflammation and
immunity (also referred to as lymphokines and monokines). Examples: interleukins, TNF,
and interferons
7. Complement System:
a. Group of proteins that are activated in sequential order to provide a link to the humoral
response
b. IgG and IgM are responsible for activating the complement cascade
c. Complement assays diagnose immunodeficiency and autoimmune disease
8. Biological Response Modifiers (BRM’s)
a. Group of substances that can elicit, modify, and restore biological response between
individual and tumor cells.
Examples:
Monoclonal antibodies:
• monoclonal antibody therapy combines actions from immunotherapy and targeted
therapy to help treat specific cancers. The body normally responds to foreign substances
by producing antibodies. These proteins are able to target the antigen when present in
the body, attacking and destroying the foreign antigen (non-self cells)
Colony stimulating factors:
• used as supportive therapy during chemotherapy by enhancing recovery of bone marrow
function after treatment-induced myelosuppression (growth factors).
How do Neutrophils function in Inflammation? Macrophages? Monocytes? Eosinophils?
Basophils? Tissue mast cells? Complement?
