McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

15

Introduction to the immune response and inflammation

Learning objectives Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to: 1. List four natural body defences against infection. 2. Describe the cells associated with the body’s fight against infection and their basic functions. 3. Outline the sequence of events in the inflammatory response. 4. Correlate the events in the inflammatory response with the clinical picture of inflammation. 5. Outline the sequence of events in an antibody-related immune reaction and correlate these events with the clinical presentation of such a reaction.

Test your current knowledge of immune response and inflammation with a PrepU Practice Quiz!

Glossary of key terms antibodies: immunoglobulins; produced by B cell plasma cells in response to a specific protein; react with that protein to cause its destruction directly or through activation of the inflammatory response antigen: foreign protein that induces specific immune responses arachidonic acid: released from injured cells to stimulate the inflammatory response through activation of various chemical substances autoimmune disease: a disorder that occurs when the body responds to specific self-antigens to produce antibodies or cell-mediated responses against its own cells B cells: lymphocytes programmed to recognise specific proteins; when activated, these cells cause the production of antibodies to react with that protein calour: heat, one of the four cardinal signs of inflammation; caused by activation of the inflammatory response chemotaxis: property of drawing neutrophils to an area complement proteins: series of cascading proteins that react with the antigen–antibody complex to destroy the protein or stimulate an inflammatory reaction dolour: pain, one of the four cardinal signs of inflammation; caused by activation of the inflammatory response Hageman factor: first factor activated when a blood vessel or cell is injured; starts the cascading reaction of the clotting factors, activates the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin to dissolve clots and activates the kinin system responsible for activation of the inflammatory response interferon: tissue hormone that is released in response to viral invasion; blocks viral replication interleukins: chemicals released by white blood cells (WBCs) to communicate with other WBCs and to support the inflammatory and immune reactions kinin system: system activated by Hageman factor as part of the inflammatory response; includes bradykinin leucocytes: white blood cells; can be neutrophils, basophils or eosinophils lymphocytes: white blood cells with large, varied nuclei; can be T cells or B cells macrophages: mature leucocytes that are capable of phagocytising an antigen (foreign protein); also called monocytes or mononuclear phagocytes major histocompatibility complex (MHC): the genetic identification code carried on a chromosome; produces several proteins or antigens that allow the body to recognise cells as being self cells mast cells: fixed basophils found in the respiratory and GI tracts and in the skin, which release chemical mediators of the inflammatory and immune responses when they are stimulated by local irritation