Disorders of Immune System

The immune system is essential for our survival. However, some situations may arise where this system does not function well. Immune system disorders may be the starting point of many diseases. Sometimes, the immune system is too weak and unable to efficiently fight infections: the immune system is too aggressive and attack harmless elements of the environment: this is the case of allergies.

(Dakroub, 2011)

• Allergies:

When you immune fail to tolerate some malfunctions this results in immune disorders or diseases. One of these most familiar disorders is allergy. Some allergies such as hay fever and hives might be attributed to antibody called ‘IgE;. Whenever any person is going to be affected with allergy such as grass pollen allergy or other allergy, the B cells will be forming the ‘IgE’ adding to it the grass pollen. These ‘IgE’ molecules will be connected to granule-containing cells which are called as mast cells, which are found in large amount in the lungs, skin, tongue and other internal linings of the body. The second time the person is in contact with the grass pollen, these ‘IgE’ that are engaged with the mast cells will produce powerful chemical that will cause the person to the initiation of what is known as allergy symptoms that some are wheezing , sneezing and other symptoms to occur(National Cancer Institute, 2009).

Allergic Reaction Animation; Video taken from (Mastake Molrybro, 2014)

Allergy is one of Immune disorder
Image from (National Cancer Institute, 2009)

References 

National Cancer Institute. (2009, September 1). Understanding Cancer Series: The Immune System - TheBody.com. Retrieved from http://www.thebody.com/content/art6319.html.

Dakroub, R. N. (2011). Life and Earth Sciences (Basic Edition, Grade Eight ed.). Lebanon, Sin El Fil: Center for Educational Resarch and Development, Educational Company.

Mastake Molrybro. (2014, March 14). Allergic Reaction Animation - Allergy Physiology symptoms, treatment, medicine [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adgwtHzQXgo.

Specific Immune Respone

The Specific* immune response is the second line of defense of the immune system against foreign bodies. It is carried out by the T and B lymphocytes that, unlike phagocyte, have sophisticated mechanisms of the antigen identification.

Cell-mediated Specific Immune Response : Graft Rejection
Humoral* Specific Immune Response : Rejection of Blood Transfusion Dakroub,(2011).

1- Cell-mediated Specific Immune Response : Graft Rejection

When an individual receives a graft * of his own skin (auto-graft) or from his identical twin
(iso-graft) the graft is rapidly integrated into the surrounding skin. However, a skin skin graft from another individual (allo-graft) is usually rapidly destroyed: it is rejected. Rejection is due to the fact that the immune system recognizes the graft as foreign that is different from ''self''. While a skin atuo-graft succeeds most of the time, in allo-graft transplantation( heart , kidney, liver, etc..) present a high failure risk. This is due to the rejection of the donor graft by the recipient's immune system.

* Specific: refers to an immune response that is customized to the intruder identity.

* Humoral: Relating  to the 'humors' an old name of plasma.

*Graft: tissue or organ transferred from one site to another in the same individual or from one individual to another Dakroub,(2011).

Transplantation (GuruKPO, 2012)

Skin Graft Response after Auto-graft and Allo-graft
.Image from Life and Earth Science book, 8th grade.

2- Humoral Specific Immune Response: Rejection of Blood Transfusion 

ABO blood groups are determined by :

• The presence of antigens, called agglitinogens* A and B, on the surface of red blood cells
• The presence of innate* antibodies, called agglutinins, specific to these antigens, in the plasma.

*Agglitinogen: membrane molecules of red blood cells that determines blood groups
*innate: present at birth.

Agglutinogens and agglutinins

Image from (PHYSIOLOGY OF LEUKOCYTES. BLOOD TYPES, 2013)

This video about ABO Blood Types and Transfusions 

from (Dennis Jones, 2014)

References

Dakroub, R. N. (2011). Life and Earth Sciences (Basic Edition, Grade Eight ed.). Lebanon, Sin El Fil: Center for Educational Resarch and Development, Educational Company.
GuruKPO. (2012, October 11). Transplantation: A general view. Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.blog.gurukpo.com/transplantation-a-general-view.


PHYSIOLOGY OF LEUKOCYTES. BLOOD TYPES. (2013, March). Agglutinogens and agglutinins. Retrieved from http://intranet.tdmu.edu.ua/data/kafedra/internal/normal_phiz/classes_stud/en/nurse/Bacchaour%20of%20sciences%20in%20nurses/ADN/08_Physiology_of_leukocytes.files/image024.jpg.

Phagocytosis

Granulocytes and Macrophages attack all microbes equally well, regardless of their nature, by Phagocytosis (from Greek: Phagein= eat: cytos= cell)

The Inflammatory reaction is a rapid, local and protective immune response that relies mostly on phagocytosis. It constitutes the first line of defense against the aggressor. Since it is identical whatever the aggressor is, it is said to be non-specific*(Dakroub, 2011).

* Non-Specific: refers to an immune response that does not depend on the intruder's identity. 

In phagocytosis, or 'cell eating' the cell engulfs debris, bacteria, or other sizable objects. Phagocytosis occurs in specialized cells called phagocytes, which include macrophages, neutrophils, and other white blood cells. Invagination produces a vesicle called a phagosome, which usually fuses with one or more lysosomes containing hydrolytic enzymes. Materials in the phagosome are broken down by these enzymes and degraded (Pearson Education, 2012).

Summary of the Phagocytic Pathway
 Image from baiduyy.com

Process of Phagocytosis 

Image from (Biology / Medicine Animations HD, 2014)

References:

Pearson Education. (2012, February 12). Concept 2 Review: Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis.Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/biomembrane2/mediated.html.

Biology / Medicine Animations HD. (2014, March 3). Process of Phagocytosis [HD Animation] [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4-g6tVyUAU.

Dakroub, R. N. (2011). Life and Earth Sciences (Basic Edition, Grade Eight ed.). Lebanon, Sin El Fil: Center for Educational Resarch and Development, Educational Company.

Non-Specific Immune Response

1- Natural Barriers:
The skin is impermeable to microbes and protects the body against infections. The mucousa such as that of the respiratory, digestive and urogenital tracts, is protected by various means: for example , nasal secretions tarp dust, gastric juices  destroy most bacteria, the urinary stream washes the urinary tract. (John H. Humphrey, 2014).

2- Inflammatory Reaction:
A skin lesion, such as a wound, a prick or a burn, may cause an infection. this will lead to a local inflammation which is revealed by the following sign:

• Redness and heat, due to a dilation of the capillaries and an increased blood flow to the areas
•  Pain, due to the stimulation of the skin nerves.
• swelling under the skin, or edema, due to a massive plasma leak out of the capillaries.

Substances secreted by the microbes and by the body attract granulocytes and monocytes.

These migrates through the capillary walls into the surrounding inflamed tissue. The Monocyte become macrophage (Dakroub, 2011).

The Inflammatory Response, 

(The Inflammatory Response [HD Animation], 2014)

Why You Are Still Alive - The Immune System Explained,

 From (Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell, 2014)

References

John H. Humphrey, M. (2014). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved November 29, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/283636/immune-system.


Dakroub, R. N. (2011). Life and Earth Sciences (Basic Edition, Grade Eight ed.). Lebanon, Sin El Fil: Center for Educational Resarch and Development, Educational Company.

Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell. (2014, July 1). Why You Are Still Alive - The Immune System Explained [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGOcOUBi6s.

The Inflammatory Response [HD Animation] [Video file]. (2014, March 6). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=426PDam1ey4

Organs of Immune System

 

All leukocytes are produced and mature in the bone marrow, except T lymphocytes, that mature in the thymus*. Mature leukocytes circulate constantly between the lymph nodes* and the spleen through blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.

*Thymus: organs located in the chest, at the basic of the strenum. 

*lymph nodes: small organs of the lymphatic network in which immune responses take place.

*Spleen: organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen (Dakroub, 2011).

Organs of Immune system, 
Image from(Immunator Honey, 2013)

The Immune System
Video taken from (Eexcelfood@cox.net Nutritional Immunolog, 2011)

References

Immunator Honey. (2013, May). Organs of the Immune system. Retrieved from http://immunatorhoney.com/index2.php?data=sisover

Dakroub, R. N. (2011). Life and Earth Sciences. Lebanon, Sin El Fil: center for educational resarch and Development, Educational Company.

Eexcelfood@cox.net Nutritional Immunolog. (2011, March 18). The Immune System[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83eM0FD6Ox0.

Cells, Molecules and Organs of the immune System

The immune system is responsible for the defense against exterior aggressions. It includes specialized cells, the molecules they secrete and the organs that contain them.

 1- Cells involved in Immunity 

Cells involved in immunity are White blood cells, also called leukocytes Dakroub(2011).

Different types of Leukocytes
(RnCeus.com, 2013)

Aspect	Particularities
Monocyte	-          Horseshoe-shaped nucleus -          cross capillary walls and become macrophages in tissues -          Have a phagocytic ability
Granulocytes	-          Also called polymorphonuclear cells because they have multilobed nucleus -          Cross capillary walls -          Have a phagocytic ability
Lymphocytes	B lymphocytes :  Round nucleus                                Secrete antibodies
	T Lymphocytes:  Round nucleus                               Killer cells

2- Antibodies
Antibodies are the Y- shaped proteins produced by the B lymphocytes. They bind antigens in an interlocking manner resembling puzzle elements. antibodies can recognize cellular and soluble antigens Dakroub, R. N. (2011).

Antigen binding by antibodies
+ binding: - no binding
Picture taken by Ghinwa Massri from Life and Earth Science, Grade eight.

References:

RnCeus.com. (2013, February). White blood cells. Retrieved from http://www.rnceus.com/cbc/cbcwbc.html

Introduction about the Immune System

All living organisms are surrounded by millions of bacteria, viruses and other microbes (germs) that may enter our bodies and cause harm. Animals with backbones, called vertebrates, have these types of general protective mechanisms, which have an advanced protective system called the immune system. (www.patient.co.uk)The immune system is a complex network of organs containing cells that recognize foreign substances which are called antigens in the body and kill them. This system protects vertebrates against pathogens, or infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other parasites. (Aberystwyth University). Nonliving substances such as toxins chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles (such as a splinter) can also be antigens. The immune system recognizes and destroys them (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014).

This video is taken from Segment from the program The Immunological System: Recognition, Attack, and Memory. retrieved on November 28, 2014 from http://www.greatpacificmedia.com/

Where is the immune system found?

Immune system Structure
Retrieved from "Immune system structures: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image," 2013)

References 

Aberystwyth University. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2014, from An Introduction to the Immune System: http://www.aber.ac.uk/~dcswww/ISYS/immune_system.html

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2014, 11 5). Retrieved November 8, 2014, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000821.htm


www.patient.co.uk. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2014, from http://www.patient.co.uk/health/the-immune-system

Image: Immune system structures: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image. (2013, September 15). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/8932.htm

Self And Non-Self

Every human being has the capability to recognize and accept what belongs to his own body, the 'self'', an to recognize and reject what foreign, the 'non self''.(Dakroub, 2011)

Marker of 'Self'': the HLA System 

the 'self'' is determined by a set of molecules , specific to each individual , that are expressed on the membrane of nucleated cells*. The most important ones are the proteins of the Human Leukocyte Antigen(HLA) system. They are genetically determined and called '' markers'' because they represent a''biological identity card' unique to each individual.
HLA molecules are identical on all cells of single and different from one person to another(Dakroub, 2011).

* nucleated cell: cell that has nucleus.

Retrieved November 27, 2014, from http://img.thebody.com/nih/2006/cancer2.jpg

'Non-Self''Non -Self encompasses all that is recognized by the body as being different from 'self'. It includes allergens (non-harmful substances), pathogens( microbes and their products), cells and tissues of the other individuals, but also own cells and tissues, if they are modified by an infection or a cancerous transformations*.

* Cancerous transformation: uncontrolled and abnormal divisions of a cell.The immune system is able to distinguish between ''self'' molecules, that it will tolerate, and 'non-self' molecules that is will reject. All these rejected molecules are called antigens*.

* Antigens: substance that is specially recognized by the immune system as foreign body.

Markers of the Non- Self 
.The National Cancer Institution.Retrieved November 27, 2014, from http://img.thebody.com/nih/2006/cancer3.jpg
Refercences
Dakroub, R. N. (2011). Life and Earth Sciences. Lebanon, Sin El Fil: center for educational resarch and Development, Educational Company.

Introduction

The purpose of this blog is to teach the blogger about the human immune system  The aim of this blog is to help young bloggers learn more about types of immunity the human adapt and how is the human body protected? what are the effectors of immunity and how the immune system works?

Organs of the Immune System: from AIDS.GOV, 2011)

Objective:
Part A:
1- Learn about the Immune Response
2- Differentiate between 'Self' and 'Non-Self' immune reactions.
3- Learn about the cells, molecules and organs of the immune system.
4- Identify the non-specific immune response
5- Recognize the specific immune response

Part B:
1- Learn about the methods of antimicrobial prophylaxis and therapeutics.
2- Distinguish between Vaccination and Serotherapy.

Part C:
1- Study about the immune system disorders: deficiencies of the immune system.
2- learn about the Allergies, its types and its reactions.(Dakroub, 2011)

References 

AIDS.GOV. (2011, November 22). Organs of Immune system. Retrieved from http://http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/just-diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/hiv-in-your-body/immune-system-101.

Dakroub, R. N. (2011). Life and Earth Sciences (Basic Edition, Grade Eight ed.). Lebanon, Sin El Fil: Center for Educational Resarch and Development, Educational Company.