Académique Documents
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by Kathryn Forester
Chemical Barriers
• Skin: secretes sweat & sebum that are acidic (acid mantle) discouraging
microbial growth (pH 3-5)
• Saliva: contains lysozyme to help break down bacterial cell wall membranes
• Gastric juices: stomach juices containing HCl (pH 2)
SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE
Works against pathogens (in general)
• Phagocytes: cells that “eat” things
• Mast cells: most hang out in connective tissue around blood vessels; WBC’s; found at cuts, injuries &
infections releasing histamine;
• Histamine: causes localized inflammatory response; acute inflammation = redness, swelling, heat, pain, decreased
function
• Causes vasoconstriction
• Clotting process begins for cuts
• Then vasodilation & area becomes red & maybe swollen
• With clotting there is coagulation
• Increases capillary permeability allowing more WBC’s to go to injury site
• Uses chemicals to mostly destroy infected cells; may also destroy some pathogens
• Breaks down cell membranes causing cell to disintegrate
• Also breaks down DNA
• Also attacks cancerous cells as well
SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE (E.G.,
FEVER)
Controlled internal temperature of 101° F or more; helps slow pathogen replication
so the immune system can wipe them out faster
• Macrophages
• first cells to encounter pathogen to begin specific response
• consume & digest pathogens
• place a piece of pathogen on its surface with its MHC proteins (e.g., a “trophy”)
• Helper T-cells
• cells ready to begin fighting has a receptor site ready to take on an invader marker shape
binding to macrophage MHC protein & antigen (“trophy”)
• hold onto “trophy” releasing a chemical (interleukin) to stimulate other T-cells & B-cells
• have CD-4 proteins on their surface
• present antigen to B-cells with a receptor site ready to take on the complementary shape, thus
beginning the fight
• Activated T-cells + B-cells clone themselves to create an army to fight the infection
• T-cells & B-cells that are immature are “trained” when they mature to the point that their
receptor sites are ready to take on a shape complementary to an antigen. They are
activated once they take on the complementary shape and can fight the battle.
• spleen
• lungs
• liver
• gallbladder
• bone marrow
• thymus gland
• lymph nodes
• lymphedema