NCLEX : Endocrine and Immune Systems
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Example Question #2 : Other Immune Physiology
Mast cells contain high concentrations of which of the following?
Histamine
All of these
Tryptase
Heparin
All of these
Mast cells are rich in granules that contain high concentrations of heparin, histamine, and trypsin, among other preformed proteases. These granules also contain serotonin and various eicosanoids. The function of mast cells is primarily to regulate immune (inflammatory) responses to allergens.
Example Question #4 : Other Immune Physiology
Which of the following would be considered to part of nonspecific immunity?
Plasma cells
Macrophages
CD8 T cells
Memory cells
Macrophages
Macrophages, the main blood cells responsible for phagocytosis of debris, bacteria, and virally infected cells, are part of the nonspecific immune response. While they are able to recognize self versus non-self proteins, they are not uniquely sensitive to any particular non-self protein type. Rathe, they phagocytose foreign matter as well as cellular debris. Plasma cells, memory cells, and CD8 T cells are all lymphocytes, and as such they are all part of the adaptive or "specific" immune system, meaning that they are uniquely sensitive to particular pathogenic proteins.
Example Question #5 : Other Immune Physiology
Which of the following antibacterial enzymes is present saliva?
Lingual lipase
Kallikrein
Lysozyme
Amylase
Lysozyme
While all of the enzymes listed are present in saliva, lysozyme is the only enzyme listed that has antibacterial properties. This enzyme, present not only in saliva but also in tears, sweat, and breast milk, damages bacterial cell walls, making it an important part of the innate immune system. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates, lipase breaks down lipids, and kallikrein breaks down proteins.
Example Question #31 : Endocrine And Immune Systems
Which of the following cell counts is particularly diminished in patients with AIDS, and is used to measure disease extent?
CD4 T-cells
CD8 T-cells
Platelets
Monocytes
Neutrophils
CD4 T-cells
The correct answer is "CD4 T-cells."
In AIDS, which is the most progressed stage of HIV, the cell type that is most significantly diminished is CD4 T-cells. Often times, the degree of disease progress of HIV and AIDS is established by monitoring the patient's CD4 T-cell count across the course of the illness. The CD4 count guides differential diagnoses when patients with HIV or AIDS present with various complaints, and also guides what prophylactic measures (e.g. antibiotics, antifungals) are administered to these patients.
While CD8 T-cell, monocyte, platelet, and neutrophil counts may each be decreased for various reasons in patients with HIV and AIDS, the most substantial association between diminished cell count and HIV/AIDS is that of CD4 T-cells.
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