Immunologie (BOOK)
43.4
Blood consists of:
Plasma
o Immunoglobulins or antibodies combat viruses and other foreign agents
o Fibrinogens
o Nutrients, hormones, wastes, gases and proteins
Erythrocytes
o Lack mitochondria and generate their ATP by anaerobic metabolism
o One erythrocyte carries about 250 million hemoglobin molecules
o In sickle-cell disease, an abnormal form of hemoglobin polymerizes into
aggregates which change the form of the erythrocytes and often lodge in
arterioles
Leukocytes
o Fight infections; phagocytic, lymphocytes
Platelets
Stem cells that produce the cellular elements of blood cells are located in the red marrow
inside bones. As they divide, they produce one daughter cell which stays a stem cell, and the
other differentiates.
Thrombus is a blood clot.
, Cardiovascular disease
Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries by accumulation of fatty deposits. A key
factor is cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein LDL delivers cholesterol and high-density
lipoprotein HDL scavenges excess cholesterol for return to the liver.
A heart attack = myocardial infarction is the damage or death of cardiac muscle tissue
resulting from blockage of one or more coronary arteries which supply oxygen rich blood to
the heart muscle.
A stroke is the death of nervous tissue in the brain due to a lack of oxygen.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is another contributor to heart attack and stroke
because it damages the endothelium.
47
Pathogens are disease causing agents.
The specific binding of immune receptors to foreign molecules is a type of molecular
recognition and is the central event in identifying non-self molecules, particles and cells.
Innate immunity means that the receptors bind to molecules or structures that are absent
from animal bodies, but common to a group of pathogens à rapid response.
Adaptive immunity (= acquired immune response) means that a specific receptor recognizes
a specific pathogen. It is activated after the innate immune response and it is enhanced by
previous exposure to the infecting pathogen à slow response.
47.1
Innate immunity of invertebrates
The exoskeleton (mostly made of chitin) of most invertebrates provides an effective barrier
against pathogens. Chitin also covers the insect’s intestine. Besides chitin, an enzyme that
breaks down bacterial cell walls called lysozyme protects the digestive system.
Immune cells produce ‘recognition proteins’ which detect and bind to pathogens (fungal or
bacterial cell walls are uncommon), once bound, it triggers an immune response. The major
immune cells are hemocytes, wherefrom some can do phagocytosis.
One class of hemocytes entrap large pathogens such as plasmodium (malaria). Other
hemocytes release antimicrobial peptides which disrupt fungi of bacteria their plasma
membranes.
43.4
Blood consists of:
Plasma
o Immunoglobulins or antibodies combat viruses and other foreign agents
o Fibrinogens
o Nutrients, hormones, wastes, gases and proteins
Erythrocytes
o Lack mitochondria and generate their ATP by anaerobic metabolism
o One erythrocyte carries about 250 million hemoglobin molecules
o In sickle-cell disease, an abnormal form of hemoglobin polymerizes into
aggregates which change the form of the erythrocytes and often lodge in
arterioles
Leukocytes
o Fight infections; phagocytic, lymphocytes
Platelets
Stem cells that produce the cellular elements of blood cells are located in the red marrow
inside bones. As they divide, they produce one daughter cell which stays a stem cell, and the
other differentiates.
Thrombus is a blood clot.
, Cardiovascular disease
Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries by accumulation of fatty deposits. A key
factor is cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein LDL delivers cholesterol and high-density
lipoprotein HDL scavenges excess cholesterol for return to the liver.
A heart attack = myocardial infarction is the damage or death of cardiac muscle tissue
resulting from blockage of one or more coronary arteries which supply oxygen rich blood to
the heart muscle.
A stroke is the death of nervous tissue in the brain due to a lack of oxygen.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is another contributor to heart attack and stroke
because it damages the endothelium.
47
Pathogens are disease causing agents.
The specific binding of immune receptors to foreign molecules is a type of molecular
recognition and is the central event in identifying non-self molecules, particles and cells.
Innate immunity means that the receptors bind to molecules or structures that are absent
from animal bodies, but common to a group of pathogens à rapid response.
Adaptive immunity (= acquired immune response) means that a specific receptor recognizes
a specific pathogen. It is activated after the innate immune response and it is enhanced by
previous exposure to the infecting pathogen à slow response.
47.1
Innate immunity of invertebrates
The exoskeleton (mostly made of chitin) of most invertebrates provides an effective barrier
against pathogens. Chitin also covers the insect’s intestine. Besides chitin, an enzyme that
breaks down bacterial cell walls called lysozyme protects the digestive system.
Immune cells produce ‘recognition proteins’ which detect and bind to pathogens (fungal or
bacterial cell walls are uncommon), once bound, it triggers an immune response. The major
immune cells are hemocytes, wherefrom some can do phagocytosis.
One class of hemocytes entrap large pathogens such as plasmodium (malaria). Other
hemocytes release antimicrobial peptides which disrupt fungi of bacteria their plasma
membranes.
