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Chapter 43: The Immune System
vocab for chapter 43
56
Biology
Undergraduate 1
01/12/2007

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Term
innate immunity
Definition
The kind of defense that is mediated by phagocytic cells, antimicrobial proteins, the inflammatory response, and natural killer(NK) cells. It is present before exposure to pathogens and is effective from the time of birth.
Term
acquired immunity
Definition
The kind of defense that is mediated by B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). It exhibits specificity, memory, and self-nonself recognition.
Term
active immunity
Definition
Long-lasting immunity conferred by the action of a person's B cels and T cells and the resulting B and T memory cells specific for a pathogen. Active immunity can develop as a result of natural infection of immunization.
Term
anaphylactic shock
Definition
an acute, whole-body, life-threatening, allergic response
Term
antibodies
Definition
A protein secreted by plasma cells that binds to a particular antigen and marks it for elimitnation; also calld immunoglobulin. All antibody molecules have the same Y-shaped structure.
Term
antigen
Definition
A macromolecule that elicits an immune response by lymphocytes.
Term
antigen presentation
Definition
The process by which an MHC molecule binds to a fragment of an intracellular protein antigen and carries it to the cell surface, where it is displayed and can be recognized by a T cell.
Term
antigen receptor
Definition
The general term for a surface protein, located on B cells and T cells, that binds to antigens, initiating acquired immune responses.
Term
antigen-presenting cells
Definition
A cell that ingests bacteria and viruses and destroys them, generating peptide fragments that are bound by class II MHC molecules and subsequently displayed on the cell surface to helper T cells. Macrophages, dendriitic cells, and B cells are the primary types of these cells.
Term
apoptosis
Definition
The changes that occur within a cell as it undergoes programmed cell death, which is brought about by signals that trigger the activation of a cascade of suiced proteins in the cell destined to die.
Term
Autoimmune disease
Definition
An immunological disorder in which the immne system turns against self.
Term
B Cell Receptors
Definition
The antigen receptro on B cells: a Y-shaped, membrane-bound molecule consisting of two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains linked by disulfide bridges and containing two antigen-binding sites.
Term
B lymphocytes (B cells)
Definition
A type of lymphocyte that develops to maturity in the bone marrow. After encountering antigen, B cells differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells, the effector cells of humoral immunity.
Term
CD4
Definition
A surface protein, present on most helper T cells, that binds to class II MHC molecules on antigen-presenting cells, enhancing the interaction between the T cell an the antigen-presenting cell.
Term
CD8
Definition
A surface protein, present on most cytotoxic cellsl, that binds to class I MHC molecules on target cells, enhancing the interaction between the T cell and the target cell.
Term
cell-mediated immune response
Definition
The branch of acquired immunity that involves the activation of cytotoxic T cells, which defend agains infected cells, cancer cells, and transplanted cells.
Term
chemokines
Definition
Any of about 50 different proteins, secreted by many cell types near a site of injury or infection, that help direct migration of white blood cells to an injury site and induces other changes central to inflammation.
Term
Class I MHC molecules
Definition
A collection of cell surface proteins encoded by a family of genes calle dthe major histocompatibility complex. Found on nearly all nucleated cells.
Term
Class II MHC molecules
Definition
A collection of cell surface proteins encoded by a family of genes called the major histocompatibility complex. These molecules are restricted to a few specialized cell types. (dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells)
Term
clonal selection
Definition
The process by which an antigen selectively binds to and activates only those lymphocutes bearing receptors specific for the antigen. The selected lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into a clone of effector and memory cells.
Term
complement system
Definition
A group of 30 blood proteins that may amplify the inflammatory respnse, enhance phagocytosis, or directly lyse pathogens. Activated in a cascade initiated by surface antigens on microorganisms or by antigen-antibody complexes.
Term
cytokines
Definition
any group of proteins secreted by a number of cell types, including macrophages and helper T cells, that regulate the function of lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system.
Term
cytotoxic T cells
Definition
A type of lymphocyte that , when activated, kills infected cells, cancer cells, and transplanted cells.
Term
dendritic cells
Definition
an antigen-presenting cell, located mainly in lymphatic tissues and skin, that is particularly effieint in presenting antigens to naive helper T cells, thereby initiating a primary immune resposne
Term
effector cells
Definition
a muscle cell or gland cell that performs the body's responses to stimuli; responds to signals from the brain or other processing center of the nervous system.
Term
eosinophils
Definition
A type of white blood cell with low phagocytic activity that is thought to play a role in defense against parasistic worms by releasing enzymes toxic to these invaders
Term
eosinophils
Definition
A type of white blood cell with low phagocytic activity that is thought to play a role in defense against parasistic worms by releasing enzymes toxic to these invaders
Term
graft versus host reaction
Definition
an attack against a patient's body cells by lymphocytes recieved in a bone marrow transplant
Term
heavy chain
Definition
One of the two types of polypeptide chains that make up an antibody molecule and B cell receptor; consists of a variable region which contributes to the antigen-binding stie, and a constant region.
Term
hemocyanin
Definition
a type of repiratory pigment that uses copper as its oxygen-binding component. Hemocyanin is found in the hemolymph of arthropods and many molluscs.
Term
hemoglobin
Definition
an iron-containing protein in red blood cellsthat reversibly binds oxygen
Term
histamine
Definition
a substance released by mast cells that cuases blood vessels to dialte and become more permeable during an inflammatory response.
Term
humoral immune response
Definition
The branch of acquired immunity that inivolves the activation of B cells and that leads to the production of antibodies, which defend against bacteria and viruses in body fluids.
Term
immunizatioin
Definition
the process of generating a state of immunity by artificial means. A nonpathogenic version of a normally pahtogenic microbe is adminstere, including B and T cell responses and immunological memory.
Term
immunoglobulins
Definition
any of the class of proteins that function as antibodies. divided into five major classes that differ in their distribution in the body and antigen deisposal activities.
Term
inflammatory response
Definition
a localized innate immune defesen triggered by phyical injury or infection of tissue in which changes to nearby small blood vessels enchance the inflitration of white blood cells, antimicrobial proteins, and clotting elements that aid in tissue repair and destruction of invading pathogens.
Term
interferon
Definition
A protein that has antiviral or immune regulatory functions
Term
light chains
Definition
one of the two types of polypeptide chains that make up an antibody molecule and B cell receptor; consists of a variable region, which contributes to the antigen-binding site, and a constant region.
Term
lymphocytes
Definition
a type of white blood cell that mediates acquired immunity. Complete their development in the bone marrow are called B cells and those that mature in the thymus are called T cells
Term
lysosome
Definition
a membrane-enclosed sac of hydrolytic enzymes found in the sytoplasm of eukaryotic cells
Term
lysozymes
Definition
an enzyme in sweat, tears, and saliva that attacks bacterial cell walls.
Term
Major Histocompatibility Complex
Definition
a family of genes that encode a large set of cell surface proteins called MHC molecules.
Term
mast cell
Definition
A vertebrate body cell that produces histamine and other molecules that trigger the inflammatory response.
Term
membrane attack complex (MAC)
Definition
A molecular complex consisting of a set of complement proteins that forms a pore in the membrane of bacterial and transplanted cells, causing the cells to die by lysis.
Term
monoclonal antibodies
Definition
Any of a preparation of antibodies that have been produced by a single clone of cultured cells and thus are all specific for the same epitope.
Term
natural killer (NK) cells
Definition
A type of white blood cell that can kill tumor cells and virus-infected cells; an important component of innate immunity.
Term
neutrophil
Definition
The most abundant type of white blood cell. These cells are phaocytic and tend to self-destruct as they destroy foreign invaders, limiting their life span to a few days.
Term
passive immunity
Definition
Short-term immunity conferred by the administration of ready-made antibodeis or the transfer of maternal antibodies to a fetur or nursing infant.
Term
plasma cells
Definition
The antibody-secreting effector cell of humoral immunity; arises from antigen-stimulated B cells.
Term
primary immune response
Definition
The initial acquired immune reponse to an antigen, which appears after a lag of about 10 to 17 days.
Term
prostaglandins
Definition
One of a group of modified fatty acids secreted by virutally all tissues and performing a wide variety of functions as local regulators.
Term
Rh factor
Definition
A protein antigen on the surface of red blood cells. Classified by habving this as positive and the lack of this protein as negative.
Term
secondary immune response
Definition
The acquired immune respnse elicited on second or subsequent exposures to a particular antigen.
Term
septic shock
Definition
overwhelming systemic inflammatory response, characterized by very high fever and low blood pressure.
Term
T lymphocytes (T cells)
Definition
A type of lymphocyte, including helper and cytotoxic, that develops to maturity in the thymus. Responsible for cell-mediated immunity.
Term
epitope
Definition
antigenic determinant, the small accessible protein of an antigen that a lymphocyte can bind tol
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