Introduction to the Immune System

This is a first draft of what I am working on for the first chapter of ProgramMED: Immunology

The components of the body that protect against and eradicate infections make up the _________ system.
immune

The immune system can be seen as a double edged sword; constantly demonstrating a balance between pro and anti ______________ processes
inflammatory

Inflammation is the mechanism by which the immune system carries out its protective functions. Involving many different factors of the system, inflammation essentially occurs via interactions between ______________
Leukocytes

Leukocytes, also known as _________ blood cells, represent the cellular component of the immune system. These specialized cells are subdivided based on various histological, functional, and ___________characteristics.
white
biochemical

When examined with an H & E stain, different cellular components can be identified. The nature of the __________, density of intracellular _________, and membrane proteins which divide cells based on __________ designation (CD nomenclature)
nucleus
organelles
cluster

Cluster Designations (CD) are useful in identifying and categorizing isolated or cultured immune _______. Immunologists will commonly refer to cells based on composition of these membrane _________.
cells
proteins

Another method of categorizing immune cells is based on ___________. As immune cells develop throughout the lifetime of the person they develop in a genetically ________ fashion.
lineage
programmed

Early in development, changes in gene expression are initiated which set the course of cellular ___________. As the programming occurs, the cells access to genetic material is altered in a manner which ultimately determines the cell's ______________.
maturation
morphology

MORPHOLOGY
__________ examination of immune cells is essential when diagnosing many pathologic processes.
Histologic

Macrophages function by phagocytosing and digesting foreign ___________. These cells will be large, present where foreign material is likely present, and contain large amounts of __________ machinery.
antigens
digestive

All immune cells produce receptor proteins as well as produce and _________ what are known as _________.
secrete
cytokines

Cytokines function as communication _________ between immune cells. They are commonly identified as Interleukin-#, based on the original belief that these protein were only secreted and received by _________.
proteins
leukocytes

We now know that cytokines can have effects on other local _______ types. Every thing from bone cells to neurons will respond to cytokine release, in both physiologic and _______physiologic settings.
tissue
patho-

While one side of the _______ is inflammatory, the flip side of the _____ is antiinflammatory. These are both active processes, each involving massive _________ release.
sword
coin
cytokine

Cytokines, in small doses, can aid in executing a precise, non-damaging, __________ response. In large doses, patients can enter into a warm-________ state requiring emergency medical assistance.
inflammatory
shock

The immune system functions in a ubiquitous manner. Constantly infiltrating and migrating across _________ barriers are easily transversed by leukocytes in the circulation, also known as ___________
vascular
monocytes

TYPES OF INFLAMMATION

The characteristics of _________ versus chronic inflammation are important to understanding the ____________ of disease processes.
Acute
mechanism

When the cell type that has localized to the site of inflammation can be identified, the cell's ____________ must be considered. For instance, in acute inflammation, _____________ are commonly present. Also known as Polymorphonuclear Cells (PMNs), these cells are designed to quickly infiltrate inflammed tissue and secrete large quantities of _______________. This widely toxic substance is hardly specific to any one organism, based on the lack of a specific targeting mechanism we can deduct that these cells will mainly be present when the invader has not previously been ___________.
function
Neutrophils
Hydrogen Peroxide.
identified

Conversely, in chronic inflammation, ________________ are commonly present. These cells are designed to identify antigen to which the body has been previously _________. If a lymphocyte recognizes foreign antigen, it is capable of enlisting the help of ____________ _______ factors.
Lymphocytes
exposed.
second response

In a secondary immune response, the major component is production of __________. These unique protein factors are released in massive quantities by __________ cells upon stimulation by an activated _________.
antibodies
plasma