Innate Immunity & Complement

By completing this question set, you will be able to identify the physical and chemical barriers that form the first line of innate defense and predict consequences of their disruption. You will match pattern recognition receptors to their specific ligands, distinguish cell-surface from endosomal TLRs, and trace TLR signaling through MyD88 to NF-κB activation. You will describe the respiratory burst pathway and explain why NADPH oxidase deficiency (CGD) causes susceptibility to catalase-positive organisms. You will explain NK cell recognition of "missing self," distinguish activating from inhibitory receptors, and trace the ADCC pathway. You will identify the trigger, key components, and C3 convertase for each complement pathway; predict which pathway is activated in a given clinical scenario; interpret C3/C4 laboratory patterns; and match complement deficiencies to their clinical consequences. You will describe the acute phase response and explain the mechanism of fever. You will trace the arachidonic acid pathway through COX and LOX branches, match each eicosanoid to its physiologic function, and identify the pharmacologic target of anti-inflammatory drugs.