What is the Immune System?

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What is the Immune System?
The immune system is a system that is made up
from different interdependent cells. These cells
collectively protect the body from different
infections that are bacterial, parasitic, fungal,
or viral and sometimes they protect from the
growth of tumor cells.
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The Organs of the Immune System

• There are four major one's
• Bone marrow
• Thymus
• Spleen
• Lymph nodes

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Bone Marrow

• All the cells for the immune system are made
  here.
• The main cells produced here that are used by the
  immune system are
• Lymphocytes
• Macrophages/dendritic

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Macrophages/Dendritic cells

• Macrophages important in regulating the immune
  response
• They are refereed to mostly as scavengers because
  they pick up and ingest foreign material and show
  it to T and B cells
• Dendritic cells function as antigens presenting
  cells and do the same job as macrophages but
  better. Little is know about them out side of
  this.

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Lymphocytes

• There are two sub-types
• B cells and T cells.
• Both made in the bone marrow.
• T cells though go to the thymus gland to finish
  the maturing proses.
• When the lymphocytes are grown they all look the
  same and both circulate through the body tissues
  and in the blood.

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B Cells

• B cells make the antibodies in response to
  foreign proteins such as viruses.
• Antibodies are proteins that bind to one
  particular protein. That binding is crucial
  because it is the way they signal other cells
  when they bind to a foreign substances

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T Cells

• T cells are usually divided into two sub
  categories
• T helper cells also called (CD4 t cells)
• Two types
• Th1 and Th2
• Coordinators of immune regulation
• Activate other white blood cells to fight off
  infection
• T killer/suppressor also called (CD8 t cells)
• Directly kill foreign cells.
• They usually are around the lymph nodes and
  spleen. Also could be found in other places such
  as liver, lungs, and blood.

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Thymus

• The thymus main job is to finish maturing the T
  cells.
• T cells are checked here and the ones that are
  wrong are destroyed here the rest are released
  into the blood stream when they are mature.

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Spleen

• Spleen is made up of B, and T cells, macrophages,
  dendric cells, and red blood cells.
• It captures antigens (foreign material) from the
  blood that passes through the spleen
• Macrophages and dendric cells also bring antigens
  to the spleen through the blood stream and it
  directs them to the B or T cells
• This can be seen as a immunological conference
  center.
• Also B cells produce large amounts of antibody
  here.

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Lymph Nodes

• Function as an immunological filter for body
  fluid known as lymph.
• Found through the body. Nodes drain fluid from
  most of our tissue.
• Composed mostly of T and B cells, dendritic, and
  macrophages.
• The fluid is filtered through and then returned
  to the body. Similar to the spleen the dendric
  and macrophages present any antigen to the T and
  B cells.

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Cytokines

• Because the immune system is so large the cells
  communicate through a proses called cytokines.
• They tell the immune cells to grow in numbers and
  tell the cells where the infection is
• It also tells them when to stop.

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Redundant

• http//www.5min.com/Video/The-Immune-System-Struct
  ure-and-Function-151425447

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Allergies

• An allergic reaction is the body trying to
  restore homeostasis
• Allergens are substances that cause allergic
  reactions
• Allergens can be contacted through skin, lungs,
  swallowed or injected
• Reactions range from mild to life threatening
• Major allergens are venom from bee stings,
  certain foods, animal dander, insect bites,
  medications, and most pollens
• Most people obtain these due to family history.

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Symptoms

• The bodys reaction causes some mild symptoms due
  to the excessive release of the bodys histamines
  
• Some mild reactions include hives, itching, nasal
  congestion, rashes, and watery and red eyes
• More serious symptoms include pain in stomach,
  tightness in chest, diarrhea, difficulty
  breathing or swallowing, dizziness, fear,
  erythema, nausea, edema, weakness, wheezing, and
  unconsciousness

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To Cure Mild Symptoms

• Calm the individual
• Identify Allergen
• Keep person away from allergen if bee sting, or
  some venom, scrape off with credit card. Do not
  pull out, this will release more venom
• If the individual has a rash, apply some sort of
  relief cream like cortisone
• Keep an eye on the individual to see if there are
  any other symptoms
• See a doctor. You will usually be prescribed
  antihistamines

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Taking Action With More Serious Symptoms

• Check persons airway, look for swelling or
  redness
• If airway is blocked, perform CPR
  (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
• Call 911
• Keep the person calm, more stress will increase
  risk of more symptoms
• Keep person away from allergen. If bee sting,
  remove by scratching off with credit card
• If the person has specific allergy medication
  with him/her, use it. Try not to use oral
  medication if the persons away is blocked
• Take caution to prevent shock. Lay the individual
  down and lift up their legs about 12 inches. Do
  not perform if individual has a maimed head,
  back, neck, or leg

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Do Not

• Assume the allergy medication will heal the
  individual
• Place a pillow under individuals head. This will
  block airways
• Give any oral medication if they have trouble
  breathing

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What is Anaphylaxis?

• It is a severe and often sudden allergic reaction
  that may affect various parts of the body. This
  reaction can be detected by the many different
  signs and symptoms that occur.

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Causes or Triggers

• Medication and common antibiotics
  ex. penicillin, amoxicillin
• Food
• ex. peanuts, milk, and fish
• Insect bites and stings
• ex. bees, wasps, fire ants, snakes

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Signs and Symptoms

• Hives
• Faintness
• Obstruction of airway/difficulty breathing
• Tightness in chest
• Increased heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Worst case scenario

DEATH
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Dangers of Anaphylaxis

• Common signs and symptoms are know, but everyone
  has different levels of tolerability and the way
  another person may react is unpredictable, which
  is why immediate help is needed.
• If signs are ignored and severe enough,
  respiratory failure, respiratory arrest, and
  death are high possibilities of what may happen.

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Treatment

• Call 911
• CPR
• Injection of Epinephrine a.k.a. Epi-Pen
• Tracheotomy emergency surgery cutting a hole
  in the victims throat and feeding a tube directly
  through the trachea to allow breathing

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What is asthma?

• Asthma is inflammation of the lungs in which the
  airways are narrowed.
• This causes breathing to become very hard.

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Early signs of asthma

• Frequent cough, especially at night
• Losing your breath easily or shortness of breath
• Feeling very tired or weak when exercising
• Wheezing or coughing after exercise
• Feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, or moody
• Decreases or changes in lung function as measured
  on a peak flow meter
• Signs of a cold or allergies (sneezing, runny
  nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and
  headache)
• Trouble sleeping

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Symptoms of asthma

• Coughing, especially at night
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness, pain, or pressure

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Treatments

• Most people with persistent asthma use a
  combination of long-term control medications and
  quick-relief medications, taken with a hand-held
  inhaler.
• If your asthma symptoms are triggered by airborne
  allergens, such as pollen or pet dander, you may
  also need allergy treatment.
• You may need to try a few different medications
  before you find what works best.
• Because asthma changes over time, you will need
  to work with your doctor to monitor your symptoms
  and learn how to make needed adjustments.

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Experimental treatments

• Some doctors are administering different mixtures
  of helium-oxygen gas to their patients, except no
  doctor would recommend this to their patients
  because there havent been any studies done.
• There is a new type of asthma therapy called
  mepolizumab and if taken regularly it can reduce
  asthmatic symptoms. Also it is proven that this
  drug lowers a certain type of white blood cells
  that have been implicated as a potential cause of
  asthma.

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Immunochemistry

• Arachidonic acid cascade
• Arachidonic acid is stored in the membranes.
  (bronchioles)
• During an asthma attack the bronchioles become
  inflamed this is caused by arachidonic acid.
• Arachidonic acid produces leukotrienes which act
  on the neighboring cells to regulate the immune
  response and reduce inflammation.