Guardians of the Glycocalyx
Innate lymphocytes that kill cells lacking MHC I or infected by viruses.
What are natural killer (NK) cells?
Process where mast cells release histamine during allergic reactions.
What is degranulation?
Tiny troublemakers like bacteria, viruses, and prions.
What is a pathogen?
These cells produce antibodies after antigen recognition.
What are B cells?
Receptor on immune cells recognizing conserved microbial structures.
What are pattern recognition receptors?
These first responders engulf pathogens and release NETs to trap microbes.
What are neutrophils?
T helper subset producing IL-17 to defend against fungi and drive autoimmunity.
What are Th17 cells?
Infectious proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases through misfolded conformations.
What are prions?
Cells that bridge innate and adaptive immunity by presenting antigens to T cells.
What are dendritic cells?
The most abundant serum antibody, capable of crossing the placenta to protect newborns.
What is IgG?
Circulating precursors that become macrophages or dendritic cells in tissues.
What are monocytes?
Chemotactic cytokines directing immune cell migration to infection sites.
What are chemokines?
Conserved molecular structures on pathogens recognised by innate immune receptors.
What are pathogen-associated molecular patterns?
Cytotoxic lymphocytes that kill infected cells using perforin and granzymes.
What are CD8+ T cells?
This antibody class binds to mast cells and basophils, triggering allergic reactions via histamine release.
What is IgE?
These histamine-releasing granulocytes team up with mast cells during allergic reactions.
What are basophils?
Structures that present antigens to T cells for immune recognition.
What are major histocompatibility complexes?
A system of serum proteins that lyses pathogens via membrane attack complexes (MAC) or promotes inflammation.
What is the complement system?
T helper subset driving immunity against intracellular pathogens via IFN-γ.
What are Th1 cells?
This pentameric antibody dominates primary immune responses and efficiently activates complement.
What is IgM?
Phagocytic cells that present antigens via MHC II and secrete cytokines like TNF-α.
What are macrophages?
Signalling molecules like TNF-α that induce fever and recruit leukocytes.
What are proinflammatory cytokines?
The process by which antibodies or complement proteins enhance phagocytosis of pathogens.
What is opsonisation?
Subset linked to allergies and parasitic responses via IL-4 and IL-5.
What are Th2 cells?
This complement activation pathway is triggered by antigen-antibody complexes.
What is the classical pathway?