Module 3 – Background Stress and the Immune Response

Module 3 – Background Stress and the Immune Response

Note: If you have trouble viewing some of the course materials, install Quicktime and the Adobe Shockwave Player, both of which can be downloaded free from the Internet.

WRITE THIS ESSAY FOR ME

Tell us about your assignment and we will find the best writer for your paper.

Get Help Now!

Pearson Learning Solutions: Lymphatic and immune systems. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=7101

Pearson Learning Solutions: Immune Response. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=5420

Pearson Learning Solutions: Primary immune response. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=8613

Pearson Learning Solutions: Naïve T and B cells. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=8615

Pearson Learning Solutions: Antibodies. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=8611

Pearson Learning Solutions: Antigen Binding. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=8612

Pearson Learning Solutions: Inflammatory Mediators. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=8631

Pearson Learning Solutions: Inflammatory Response. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=8622

Pearson Learning Solutions: Complement System. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=8600

Hovhannisyan,L.P. et al. Alterations in the complement cascade in post-traumatic stress disorder. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2010; 6(1): 3. Accessed on August 18, 2014, at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2834673/

Pearson Learning Solutions: Scientific method. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=10647

Pearson Learning Solutions: Scientific Method Diagram. Pearson Higher Education, 2014. Accessed on August 14, 2014, at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-comprehensive/asset.php?isbn=1269879944&id=5624

Module Overview

Now that you have learned about cortisol and its effect on the CNS, let’s continue to examine how other systems of the human body can be negatively affected by persistent cortisol exposure. We begin by learning about the systems that operate to protect our body from disease: the lymphatic and immune systems. After you work through this tutorial, look at the nonspecific and specific responses of your body’s immune response. As you can see, nonspecific responses are part of the body’s innate immune system, acting like patrolling guards at a gate. The specific responses are part of the body’s adaptive immune system, analogous to a special operations unit that is trained and equipped to handle a wide variety of situations. This includes the ability to remember invaders, which provides us with immunity to future attacks by that pathogen.

View this overview of the primary immune response to see this in action.
Let’s look more closely at the “special ops” of the immune system: T and B cells. Both originate from stem cells in the bone marrow, where all blood cells are produced. They mature in different regions of the body: B cells mature in bone marrow and T cells mature in the thymus gland. We describe them as being naïve when they leave these organs, until they encounter an antigen and bind to accomplish immunocompetence.

Now look more closely at the structure of antibodies responsible for recognizing the antigen presented by the pathogen. When the antibody binds to the antigen, the pathogen is then targeted and can be removed and/or destroyed. This summarizes the idea of immunocompetence and the importance of the ability of T and B cells.

Now that you have some background on normal immune system function, proceed to the Background and Case assignments to look at how cortisol levels resulting from the stress response can influence the immune response.

Module 3 – CaseStress and the Immune Response

Note: If you have trouble viewing some of the course materials, install Quicktime and the Adobe Shockwave Player, both of which can be downloaded free from the Internet.

STOP!!! BE SURE YOU HAVE READ THE CONTENT ON THE HOME PAGE AND ALL LINKS THERE! You will need this information to continue with this assignment.

Case Assignment

Now that you know about the immune response, return to the article The Physiology of Stress: Cortisol and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science and read the section related to the immune system in closer detail. Using this as a starting point, complete the requirements below using paragraph format to address each topic:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Note that the inflammatory response and the complement system are mentioned in the article. Now learn more about the inflammatory response and the inflammatory mediators. You will find information on the complement system as well. Do a little research on these components and provide a paragraph explaining the normal function and steps associated with signaling these components. Identify where in this cascade of signaling events that cortisol is thought to interfere.

Paragraph 2: PTSD and the Complement System

Now compare the theory mentioned in the Dartmouth article to the findings in this study on PTSD and the complement system. Focus on the Abstract and Discussion sections of this study on PTSD. Address the following questions:

1. What did they find in common among PTSD patients?
2. How does alteration of the complement affect the inflammatory response?

Paragraph 3: Inflammatory

Response and the Brain

Finally, read The Consequences of the Inflamed Brain and draw connections between the inflammatory response and brain function and behavior. How are the CNS and the immune system interconnected? How does the inflammatory response affect mood and behavior?

Which component of the nervous system reacts to an infection? What are the implications for mood and behavior if the inflammatory response is prolonged? What types of things might cause the inflammatory response to become prolonged or exaggerated?

Paragraph 4: Conclusions

To complete this assignment, “connect the dots” between the influence of stress on the immune system, the potential effects that PTSD can have on the inflammatory response (remember this occurs after an extremely stressful event and is related to dysregulation of cortisol), and the perpetuation of depression and other symptoms of PTSD.

Assignment Expectations

You are provided with many scholarly references to complete this assignment. Include a References section that lists these and any additional sources you used (refer to the Background page). For any additional research you are required to do to complete your assignment, please use scholarly references such as a peer-reviewed journal article or a government-sponsored or university-sponsored website. As you read through your sources, take notes from your sources and then write your paper in your own words, describing what you have learned from your research. Direct quotes should be limited and must be designated by quotation marks. Paraphrased ideas must give credit to the original author, for example (Murray, 2014).

For this Case Assignment, answer all questions using full sentences and use the headings provided above to organize your paper.