Question

Which of the following are FALSE about the innate immune cells:

i) They can distinguish H1N1 influenza virus from H3N2 influenza virus.

ii) They do not have receptors that recognize self-molecules.

iii) They home to tissues using adhesion molecules.

iv) They cannot kill multi-cellular organisms.

v) They interact with the adaptive immune system.

options

i,iii

ii, iv

iii, v

i

i, ii,iv

Answer 1

Options i,ii, and iv are false

i. False

Influenza is basically a respiratory illness and A,B,D ,D are its types where A, B (both are seasonl) and C affect humans. Infuenza A is further subdivided based on proein son its surface- hemagglutinin and neuraminidase ad H3N2 is basically one of this subtypes of influenza A. All flu viruses tend to mutate each year but compare to others this H3N2 mutates much faster.

Even though there is a large difference between the two strains, there are only small differences between the cytokine responses of innate system in both the strains. Basically, these cytokines and cytokine responses are responsible for stimulating the neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes to participate into innate response cycle. Due to this small difference in cytokine response, our innate system cannot distinguish between the two strains.

ii. false

Our innate cells has the ability to distinguish between self and non self. What happens is whenever a foreign antigen enters in our body, specific pathogens ssociated molecular patterns are recognized that are present on pathogens surface called PAMPs. These are recognized by certain cells in blood and lymph. Along with this, certain orientation on sugar residues are also recognized that are present on pathogen surface. The receptors that are primarily responsible for distinguishing between self and non self are TLRs i.e Toll like receptors.

iii. true

Basically, with the help of adhesion molecules, neutrophils (that generally leave the blood and enter the tissues) and monocytes (that develop into macrophages later after leaving the blood) bind the the blood vessels and are attracted by the chemotactic factors.

iv. false

Almost all the multicellular organisms have innate system in them through which they can recognize the microbial dangers and infections. Innate system helps in combating the infections and contribute to the inflammatory responses. Almost all multicellular organisms that are foreign to the body that innate cells encounter are killed.

v. true

Basically, dendritic cell that is a part of phagocytic cell links the innate and adaptive response to combat the pathogen. Adaptive system detects pathogen and it signals to the innate cell which in turn activates T-cells that fights the infection and kills the microbe by phagocytosis.
Thus, both the system link with each other to fight of the pathogen.