ACTIVITY 14

UNDERSTANDING IMMUNE SYSTEM

• The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs
that work together to defend against germs.
• It helps the body to recognize these "foreign" invaders. Then its job is
to keep them out, or if it can't, to find and destroy them.
• Immune deficiencies may be temporary or permanent.
> Temporary immune deficiency can be caused by a variety of
sources that weaken the immune system. Common infections,
including influenza and mononucleosis, can suppress the
immune system.
• When immune cells are the target of infection, severe immune
suppression can occur. For example, HIV specifically infects T cells,
and their elimination allows for secondary infections by other
pathogens. Patients receiving chemotherapy, bone marrow
transplants, or immunosuppressive drugs experience weakened
immune systems until immune cell levels are restored. Pregnancy also
suppresses the maternal immune system, increasing susceptibility to
infections by common microbes.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Immunodeficiency
> is a state in which the ability of immune system is
compromised or entirely absent to fight against infectious
diseases and cancer.
> Two types of immunodeficiency disorders:
1. primary or congenital or inherited
2. secondary or acquired
Immunodeficiency can be specific or non-specific
1. specific = abnormalities of B & T cells
2. non-specific= abnormalities of non specific components
Primary immunodeficiency disorder
> To date, over 150 different primary immunodeficiency have
been identified. All are relatively rare, usually present at birth
and are usually hereditary. Evident during infancy or childhood.
> However, some disorders (such as common variable
immunodeficiency) are not recognized until adulthood.
> Usually congenital, resulting from genetic defects in some
components of the immune system
>  Primary Immunodeficiency is also known as congenital
immunodeficiencies. Many of these disorders are hereditary and
are autosomal recessive or X-linked. There are over 95 recognized
primary immunodeficiency syndromes; they are generally grouped
by the part of the immune system that is malfunctioning, such
as lymphocytes or granulocytes.
> The treatment of primary immunodeficiencies depends on the
nature of the defect, and may involve antibody infusions, long-term
antibiotics and (in some cases) stem cell transplantation.
Primary immunodeficiency disorder

1. Common variable immunodeficiency

> In which number of B cells is usually normal, but the cells do
not mature and thus cannot produce immunoglobulin.
> It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 .
> The genetic mutations that cause this disorder can be inherited, but
more often, they occur spontaneously.
> Symptoms: Recurring sinus and lung infections, particularly
pneumonia, are common. People may develop a chronic cough,
cough up blood, or have difficulty breathing. Diarrhea may occur.
The spleen may enlarge.
2. SELECTIVE IMMUNOGLOBULIN DEFICIENCY
> It results in a low level of one type (class) of antibody
(immunoglobulin) but levels of other IG’s are normal. Most
commonly affected class is IgA deficiency, usually inherited.
> SELECTIVE IGA DEFICIENCY is a low level of immunoglobulin A
(IgA) caused by a mutation in a specific gene or by a drug
[phenytoin or sulfasalazine]
> Symptoms- Mostly no symptoms are observed, but some have
chronic lung infections, sinusitis, and other disorders.
> Susceptible to pyogenic infection
3. X-linked gammaglobulinemia
> It is a hereditary due to a mutation in a gene on the X (sex)
chromosome. The disorder cause no B cells (lymphocytes) and
very low levels of or no antibodies (immunoglobulins).
> X-linked disorders usually affects boys.
> Symptoms: risk of developing infections in the joints (infectious
arthritis), irreversible widening due to chronic inflammation of
the airways (bronchiectasis), and certain cancers.
SECONDARY OR ACQUIRED
> Secondary immunodeficiencies, also known as acquired
immunodeficiencies, can result from various
immunosuppressive agents, for example, malnutrition, aging,
particular medication.
DIFFERENT IMMUME DISORDERS
ASTHMA:
Asthma is caused by an overreaction from the immune system to
certain triggers. This is similar to a class of diseases caused by an
immune system response. These are called autoimmune conditions.

What is autoimmunity?
our immune system’s job is to fight off foreign invaders in your body that
cause disease and infection. Autoimmunity is a response that happens
when your immune system antibodies malfunction and attack your
healthy cells and tissues. These antibodies are called autoantibodies
Any disease that is caused by an autoimmunity response is
called an autoimmune condition. Some examples are: 2
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Type 1 diabetes
• Lupus
• Graves’ disease
Is asthma an autoimmune disease?
Asthma is caused by an overactive immune response. But asthma is
not considered an autoimmune disease. The processes that cause
the asthma immune response are different from the ones that cause
autoimmune diseases.
Most people with asthma have allergic asthma. This is sometimes
called extrinsic asthma. In extrinsic asthma, the immune system is
triggered by allergens. This causes the immune system to overreact.
The reaction causes inflammation in the lungs, which then causes
trouble breathing. This immune reaction is mainly driven by an
antibody called IgE.
ALLERGIES:
When a harmless substance such as dust, mold, or pollen is
encountered by a person who is allergic to that substance, the
immune system may over react by producing antibodies that
"attack" the allergen. The can cause wheezing, itching, runny
nose, watery or itchy eyes, and other symptoms.
ALLERGIES are the results of your immune system’s respone to a
substance.

Immune response can be mild. From coughing and a runny nose to a life
threatening reaction know as ANAPHYLAXIS.

Anaphylactic shock, also called anaphylaxis, is a severe, life-

threatening reaction to certain allergens. Body tissues may
swell, including tissues in the throat. Anaphylactic shock is
also characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Common symptoms of anaphylactic shock.
• Itching and hives over most of the body
• Feeling warm
• Swelling of the throat and tongue or tightness in throat
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Pain or cramps
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Shock
• Loss of consciousness
• Feeling light-headed
• Anxiety
• Abnormal heart rate (too fast or too slow)
AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
> is a group of symptoms & signs associated with the same
underlying condition. The variety of opportunistic infections &
cancers cause a variety of symptoms & signs. This group of
illnesses with their symptoms & signs makes up the syndrome
“AIDS”.
• How does HIV affect the immune system?
> HIV specifically attacks the CD4 cells. The HIV antibodies produced
by the immune system are unable to overcome the infection. Over
time, HIV progressively weakens the immune system. The person
becomes “immunodeficient” A weak immune system can no longer
effectively defend the body.
• What happens when the immune system is weakened?
> The body becomes vulnerable to a variety of infections & cancers. The infections
that take advantage of a weakened immune system are
“opportunistic infections”. Eventually the immune system is so weak that
the body is overwhelmed by infections and/or cancers, and the person dies.
THANK YOU