Immunology doctors are often referred to as clinical immunologists who study the immune system and treat patients with immune disorders. Clinical immunologists are involved in diagnosing and managing conditions such as severe infections, HIV and multiple sclerosis.
Their work consists of both cl...
General im m unology 269
Immunology - pregnancy 280
G e n e r a l im m u n o lo g y
1 . T h e im m une sy stem is divided in to 2 fu n ctional units
• Innate
• Adaptive
2. Innate im m une system
• Is th e first line o f defence
• Also known as th e non-specific immune system (i.e. its response is non-specific and
independent)
• Is unchanged ov er tim e (i.e. has no m em ory)
• Is fast t o develop (within hours)
• Consists o f soluble and cellular m ediators ( B o x 8.1)
• Also includes anatomical barriers (e.g. skin and epithelial layers)
B ox 8.1 M ediators o f th e innate immune system
S olu b le m e d ia to rs C e llu la r m e d ia to rs
Com plem ent system components Monocyte
Coagulation system components D endritic cells
Lactoferrin and transferrin N eutrophil
Interferon Eosinophil
Cytokines and chemokines (e.g. interleukins) Mast cells
Acute phase proteins (e.g. CRP) Basophil
N atural killer (N K ) cells
3. Adaptive im m une system
• Is responsible fo r specific lymphocytic activity
• Is slow t o developm ent (within days)
• Has m em ory
• Augm ents with tim e
• Has immune toleran ce t o self (i.e. no immune response to self-antigens)
, • Has diversity
• Has 1 arms
i. Humoral immunity (antibody production)
ii. Cellular immunity
• Consists o f soluble and cellular m ediators (Box 8.2)
B o x 8.2 M ediators o f th e adaptive immune system
C e llu la r m e d ia to rs
Com plem ent system components T-cell
Antibodies B-cell
Cytokines Antigen-pesenting cells
4. im m une to le ra n c e
• Is th e process through which immune respon se t o self-antigens is prevented
• T h ere are 3 form s
i. C entral toleran ce
ii. Peripheral toleran ce
iii. Acquired toleran ce
• Prevents th e developm ent o f autoimmunity
• C entral toleran ce
i. O ccu rs in th e thymus and bo ne m arrow
ii. Begins in fetal life
• Acquired toleran ce includes the immune to leran ce th at occurs in pregnancy
5. H ypersensitivity - th e r e a re 4 types (Box 8.3)
B o x 8.3 Types o f hypersensitivity
T yp e 3
T ype 1 T yp e 2 Typ e 4
A n tib o d y -a n tig e n
M a st c e ll m e dia te d C o m p le m e n t m e d ia te d T -c e ll m edia te d
c o m p le x m e dia te d
Mast cell Antibody dependent • Immune comptex Cell-mediated
degranulation Activation o f deposition reaction
Associated w ith IgE complement via • Develops in = 10 days Delayed reaction
E.g. classical pathway by • Eg- (takes ~ 48 hrs to
• Hay fever IgM and IgG • Rheumatoid develop)
• Allergy arthritis Involves T-cells
• Haemolytic disease • SLE E-g.
o f newborn • Glom erulonephritis • G raft rejection
• Pernicious anaemia • Serum sickness • C ontact sensitivity
• Transfusion • Symptom o f TB
-
• Graves’ disease • Symptom o f :
'
• Myasthenia gravis leprosy
• Autoimm une
disease
• Food allergies
6 . T ran splantation
• G raft classifications
i. Autograft = from th e sam e person
ii. Allograft = from a different individual o f th e sam e species
iii. Xen ograft = from a different species
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