HUBS1404 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Natural Killer Cell, Mucous Membrane, Subcutaneous Tissue
19 Jul 2018
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Document Summary
The castle analogy: the innate immune components are the moats, walls, traps, alarms, scouts & infantry, their role is to repel the attackers and prevent invasion and colonisation. Secretion of mucous - longs chains of glycoproteins hard for bacteria to get through: may possess cilia - prevent bacteria having increased contact time with surface. Secretion of various anti-bacterial chemicals: 1st point of contact with pathogens from the external environment. Commensal bacteria: normal microbiota may inhibit pathogen colonisation in several ways, formation of bacterial layer, compete for nutrients and space, production of bacteriocides. If pathogen get through 1st line of defence: Cellular defences: white blood cells perform a variety of functions, phagocytosis, neutrophils and macrophages. Internalise and destroy pathogens: natural killer (nk) cells, attack cancerous and infected cells. Chemical mediators of acute inflammation: protein/enzyme cascades, kinins (immune activating) and complement proteins.
