the study of molecules, cells, organs, and systems responsible for:

the recognition and disposal of foreign (nonself) material

how body components respond and interact

the desirable and undesirable consequences of immune interactions

the ways in which the immune system can be advantageously manipulated to protect against or treat diseases

specific glycoproteins found in either serum or plasma

produced by b-lymphocytes when body detects harmful substances (antigens)

designed to seek out and bind with specific antigens

the ummune system recognizes microbes as being either self or non-self

defense- defends the body from microorganisms that could cause it harm or even death

homeostasis- helps maintain homeostasis by removing old and/or damaged cells from the body

surveillance-conducts surveillance by recognizing and destroying malignant cells before they are able to spread and cause further harm

the defense mechanism that the body uses immediately or within several hours after exposure to almost any microbe.

the immunity you are born with.

its antigen- nonspecific and nonadapative

this defense mechanism takes several days to become protective and is designed to react with and remove a specific antigen

this is the immunity you develop throughout your life.

two types: humoral response; cell-mediated response

organs in the immune system fall into two categories:

primary lymphoid organs- mainly responsible for the production and development of special cells

secondary organs and tissues-serve as a filtration sstem to eliminate debris and foriegn particles

primary lymphoid organ:

bone marrow

spongy fatty tissue found inside long bones

site of most cell development and maturation

site where special cells called b-lymphocytes or "b-cells" develop and mature

primary lymphoid organ:

thymus

found on the trachea in the upper part of the chest

site where special cells stem cells undergo further development in order to become t-lymphocytes or "t-cells"

secondary lymphoid organs and tissues:

mucosa- associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)

system composed of small concentrations of lymphoid tissue

provides the first line of defense against orally ingested pathogens

secondary lymphoid organs and tissues:

lymph nodes

bundles of tissue found througout the human body

filled with lymphocyte cells

act as filters by removing microorganisms from circulation

secondary lymphoid organs and tissues:

spleen

largest of the secondary organs

acts as a filter by trapping and removing foreign materials out of blood

removes older and damaged RBCs

transmit messages between cells

messages include: regulate cell growth, differentiation, and function

types include: lymphokines, chemokines, interleukins, interferons

accumulate at inflammatory sites and release histamines, which cause an allergic response

activated by IgE antibodies

invade microorganisms, including certain parasites

also play a role in controlling allergic reactions by emitting histaminase

monocytes are found in the blood.

when they enter tissue the becoem tissue macrophages.

ingest antigens via phagoctosis

serve as antigen-presenting cells (APC)

primarily responsible for cell-mediated immunity

represent 60-80% of circulating lymphocytes

t-lymphs that enhance and promote the action of other immune cells as follows:

secrete cytokines that activate macrophages

assit b-cells in antibody production

activate supressor cells

other names: T4, CD4

responsible for humoral immunity.

they are called plasma cells when activated and start producing antibodies

a group of functionally defined cells capable of taking antigens and presenting them to lymphocytes

dosplay parts of ingested antigens, bound to what are called MCH molecules on their sufaces

1: an antigen becomes ingested by an APC and is broken down into smaller pieces

2: a vesicle within the cell containing MHC molecules merges with the vesicle containing the antigen pieces

3: antigen fragments become bound to the MHC molecules

4: according to which type of antigen-MHC complex is exposed either helper/inducer t-cell or cytotoxic t-cells are activated

monoclonal antibodies

heterophile antibodies

much more vesatile

react with: the antigen that caused their production; other antigens that have a similar physical structure to the original antigen

serum electrophoresis

immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE)

immunoelectrophoresis

specimen: serum

volume: 3ml, minimum 2ml

container: red-top tube or gel barrier tube

collection: separate serum from cells

storage: refrigerate

patient preparation: patient should be fasting

causes for rejection: gross hemolysis; gross lipemia

made up of basic four chain structure:

2 large heavy chains

2 smaller light chains

chains held together y noncovalent forces and disulfide interchain bridges

heavy and light chains form a "y" shape

light chains located on the outside of each arm of the Y

heavy chains form the core of the antibody structure

cleaved into 2 or more fragments by papain and pepsin

called:

FAB sites

FC sites

upper portion of the Y

capable of antigen binding

two FAB sites per antibody

each site has the light chain and the upper part of the heavy chain

lower portion of the Y

only consist of the bottom part of the heavy chains

only one per antibody

can bind to receptors on certain immune system cells

located in the upper portion of each FAB site

gives the antibody its unique specificity to bind to a specific antigen vice

light and heavy chains have one variable region

comesed of the entire fc site and the bottom portion of each fab site

activates the complement cascade

light chains have 1 constant region

heavy chains have one or more constant regions

center portion of the antibody

allow the antibody to be flexible and attach to the antigen

area where the antibody can be broken apart by a chemical treatment

most involved immunoglobin in immune responses to antigens

functions: provides immunity to newborn (can cross placenta)

neutralizes toxins

helps to fight infections

amount: major immunoglobin in normal serum

accounts for about 70-75% of total immunoglobin pool

largest anitbody and the first and main antibody involved in the primary immune response

function: acts as an antigenic receptor site on the surface  of the immature b-lymphocyte

neutralizes toxin

with 10 binding sites is most effectivwe antibody for aggulation

with 5 FC regions is most effective antibody for activating complement

amount: accounts for about 10% of immunoglobulin pool

known as secretor anitbody

function: protect against bacteria and viruses that try to enter through our epithelial surfaces

cam caise severe or even fatal anaphylatic transfusion reactions

amount: accounts for about 15-20% of immunoglobin pool

function: when found on the surface of b-lymph may act as receptors for antigens

currently no blood-group antibodies are known to belong to this class

amount: found only in very small amounts in the body (-1%)

function: major importance in allergic reactions and parasitic infections

can attach to the surface of basophils and trigger powerful immune responses

mediates the release of histamines and heparin from basophil and mast cells

anti-histamines block histamine receptors

immediate hypersensitivity on atopic reactions

amount: antibody with the lowest concentration in the serum and with the shortest half-life

results from the production of antibodies against a foreign antigen

state of permanent resistance develops

results from transfer to antibodies from one individual to another

immunity only provides temporary protection

long term protection

active natural: a person produces antibodies after clinical or sub-clinical infection

active artificial: injection of live, killed, or attenuated (thinned) microorganisms or their antigens (vaccine)

responisble for the body defense in:

contact sensitivity: poison ivy

delayed sensitivity: contact dermatitis

immunity to viral and fungal antigens

rejection of foreign tissue grafts

phagocytosis

activated in response to lymphokines

can attach to antigen-antibod and antigen-antibody-component complexes

present processed antigen to t-lymph

cell-mediated component:

macrophages

t-lymphs do not directly recognize antigens

this recognition takes place when the antigen is present on the surface of an APC, the macrophage

cell-mediated component:

cytotoxic t-lymph

recognize and destroy/lyse  body cells displaying epitopes of foreign antigen on their surface

virus-infected cells; cells with intracellular bacteria; cancer cells displaying tumor antigens; transplanted cells

cell-mediated components:

natural killer cells

cell-mediating component:

various stimulating cells

involves the produciton of antibody molecules in responses to an antigen

mediated by b-lymph

primary function is defense against bacterial infections

humoral immunity component:

lymphokines

secreted from t-cells

activate b-cells

humoral immunity component:

plasma cells (activated b-lymph)

when b-cells are activated they multiply and change into plasma cells

plasma cells produce antibodies

humoral immunity component:

memory cells (activated b-lymph)

humoral immunity component:

antibodies

general antigen characteristics:

antigen

substance that stimulates antibody formation

has the ability to bind to an antibody

general antigen characteristics:

immunogen

a foreign moelecule capable of provoking an immune response

called antigentic determinants or epitopes

general antigen characteristics:

epitope

the small part of an antigen recognized in the immune response

the part of the antigen that binds with the antibody

each antigen can contain many diffferent epitope sites

ph: optimum pH is 7.0

temperature: deifferent classes of antibodies react at different tempatures

incubation time: varies on class of  antibody

antibodies are cloned from a single cell to bind a single specific antigen

useful because the are uniform, highly specific, and can be produced in large quantities

have only one type of heavy and light chains

highly specific antibodies that react onlywith the antigen that caused their production

typing erythrocyte antigens

typing leukocyte antigens

as a reagent

use universal blood and body fluid precautions

obtain blood sample from patient using aseptic technique

alllow blood to clot at room tempature or in refrigerator

centrifuge blood for 10 min at moderate speed

place serum into an appropriately labeled tube that can be sealed

serum should not be hemolyzed or contaminated with rbcs

testing shold be done promptly or freeze the serum

heat serum at 56.C for 30 minutes

if serum has not been used within 4hrs reheat serum at 56.C for 10 min

point of equal antigen and antibody which yields the greatest reaction

excess antibody

antibodies are able to bind every antigen-binding site before any cross-linking can occur

results in false negative

excess antigen

antibody combines with only one or tow antigen-binding sites, an no cross-linking occurs

results in a false negative