Study Guide
Inflammation and Immunity
1. What are the ways that the body protects us? What is the difference between innate and
immune response?
a. First line of defense
i. Physical barriers
1. Skin
ii. Epithelial cells
iii. Mucus membranes
iv. Cilia
b. Innate immune system
i. Non specific
ii. Starts very quickly
c. Adaptive immune system
i. Specific
ii. Takes slower to activate
1. Have to find the right antigen and then the “army” is built
Innate (inflammation) response
1. When do you have an innate response?
a. Non-specific
i. Ex. sprained ankle and it swells
2. What is the purpose of the inflammation response? What happens in the vascular stage
of inflammation? What happens in the cellular stage of inflammation?
a. Purpose of inflammation response
i. Protection
ii. Removal of damaged tissue
iii. Prepare for tissue repair and healing
b. Vascular stage
i. Vasodilation and increased blood flow
ii. Leakage of plasma proteins
iii. Neutrophil recruitment and migration
c. Celular
i. Migration and tethering
ii. Diapedesis and chemotaxis
iii. Phagocytosis
1. Opsonization
2. Engulfment
3. Phagosome
3. What is exudate? What are the different types?
a. Exudates: fluids, proteins, RBCs, leukocytes, cell debris
, b. Types of exudates
i. Serous
1. Clear / watery
ii. Fibrinous
1. Sticky / stringy
iii. Purulent
1. Pus
iv. Catarrhal
1. Cloudy mucus
v. Hemorrhagic
1. Presence of RBCs
4. What are the functions of interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, and interferons?
a. Interleukins
i. Call lymphocytes and WBCs into action
ii. Stimulate bone marrow cell production
b. Tumor necrosis factor
i. Cause cancer cell apoptosis
c. Interferons
i. Warn healthy cells to protect themselves
5. What is the function of the mast cells? What happens with histamine release and with
prostaglandin and leukotriene release?
a. Mast cell
i. Functions: help fight infections and contribute to inflammation, important
in allergic reactions
ii. Secretions
1. Histamines
a. First to respond
b. Bronchoconstriction
c. Vasodilation
2. Prostaglandin
a. Pain
b. Bronchoconstriction
c. Vascular effect
3. Leukotriene
a. Vascular effect
b. Bronchoconstriction
c. Arrive later but last longer than histamines
6. What is a chemokine?
a. Released by mast cells
b. Attracts other WBC to site of inflammation
7. What does it mean to be pleiotrophic and redundant?
a. Pleiotrophic
i. Many different chemokines producing many different effects
b. Redundant
Inflammation and Immunity
1. What are the ways that the body protects us? What is the difference between innate and
immune response?
a. First line of defense
i. Physical barriers
1. Skin
ii. Epithelial cells
iii. Mucus membranes
iv. Cilia
b. Innate immune system
i. Non specific
ii. Starts very quickly
c. Adaptive immune system
i. Specific
ii. Takes slower to activate
1. Have to find the right antigen and then the “army” is built
Innate (inflammation) response
1. When do you have an innate response?
a. Non-specific
i. Ex. sprained ankle and it swells
2. What is the purpose of the inflammation response? What happens in the vascular stage
of inflammation? What happens in the cellular stage of inflammation?
a. Purpose of inflammation response
i. Protection
ii. Removal of damaged tissue
iii. Prepare for tissue repair and healing
b. Vascular stage
i. Vasodilation and increased blood flow
ii. Leakage of plasma proteins
iii. Neutrophil recruitment and migration
c. Celular
i. Migration and tethering
ii. Diapedesis and chemotaxis
iii. Phagocytosis
1. Opsonization
2. Engulfment
3. Phagosome
3. What is exudate? What are the different types?
a. Exudates: fluids, proteins, RBCs, leukocytes, cell debris
, b. Types of exudates
i. Serous
1. Clear / watery
ii. Fibrinous
1. Sticky / stringy
iii. Purulent
1. Pus
iv. Catarrhal
1. Cloudy mucus
v. Hemorrhagic
1. Presence of RBCs
4. What are the functions of interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, and interferons?
a. Interleukins
i. Call lymphocytes and WBCs into action
ii. Stimulate bone marrow cell production
b. Tumor necrosis factor
i. Cause cancer cell apoptosis
c. Interferons
i. Warn healthy cells to protect themselves
5. What is the function of the mast cells? What happens with histamine release and with
prostaglandin and leukotriene release?
a. Mast cell
i. Functions: help fight infections and contribute to inflammation, important
in allergic reactions
ii. Secretions
1. Histamines
a. First to respond
b. Bronchoconstriction
c. Vasodilation
2. Prostaglandin
a. Pain
b. Bronchoconstriction
c. Vascular effect
3. Leukotriene
a. Vascular effect
b. Bronchoconstriction
c. Arrive later but last longer than histamines
6. What is a chemokine?
a. Released by mast cells
b. Attracts other WBC to site of inflammation
7. What does it mean to be pleiotrophic and redundant?
a. Pleiotrophic
i. Many different chemokines producing many different effects
b. Redundant
