Overview of the Immune System Keywords

• Innate Immunity: a non-specific immunity that does not discriminate includes complement, interferon, cytokines,
and natural killer cells among other tactics

• Acquired Immunity: A specific immunity gained through vaccination or exposure to a pathogen. Includes B cells,
antibodies, and T cells

• Monocytes/macrophages: Monocyte is a white blood cell that is capable of phagocytosis. If a monocyte leaves the
blood, it is called a macrophage and initiates inflammatory and avute phase response

• Neutrophils: abundant white blood cell that forms the PMN with basophils and eosinophils

• Polymorphonuclear leukocytes: category of white blood cells known for granules in cytoplasm. Have lobed nucleus
(typically 3 sections)

• B lymphocytes: important in the humoral branch of the adaptive immune response. Principle functions are to make
antibodies, perform role of Antigen Presenting Cells, and to develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen
interaction

• T lymphocytes: mature in the thymus. Play a role in cell-mediated immunity. There are many varieties of T cells

• Antigen: substance that prompts the generation of antibodies and can cause an immune response. Usually proteins
or polysaccharides

• Antibodies (immunoglobulins): found in the blood and used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign
objects

• Cytokines: signaling molecules that are used extensively in cellular communication

• Chemokines: family of cytokines secreted by cells. Have defined size and presence of four cysteine residues in
conserved locations. Name is derived from their ability to induce directed chemotaxis in nearby responsive cells

• Complement: a system that helps clear pathogens from an organism. Innate response, but can be called on by
specific immunity. Consists of a number of small proteins that, when activated, cleave specific proteins to release
cytokines and initiate more cleavages.

• Phagocytosis: process of phagocytes and protists by engulfing solid particles by the cell membrane to form an
internal food vacuole. Used to remove pathogens and cell debris

• Opsonins: any molecule that acts as a binding enhancer for phagocytosis

• Toll-like receptors: class of single membrane-spanning receptors that recognize structurally conserved molecules
derived from microbes once they have breached skin or mucus membranes

• Major Histocompatibility Complex: codes for proteins that present self and non-self antigens to T-cells

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• Humoral Immunity: immunity mediated by secreted antibodies produced in the cells of B lymphocytes. Refers to
antibody production and the processes that accompany it. Can also refer to effector function of an antibody,
complement activation, and opsonim promotion

• Cell-Mediated Immunity: Immune response that involves the activation of macrophages, natural killer cells, antigen
specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and release of various cytokines

• Clonal Selection: widely accepted model for how the immune system responds to infection and how certain B or T
lymphocytes are selected for destruction of specific antigens

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