Questions for Students

Question: What are the roles of macrophages and neutrophils in the immune system?

Answers:

  • they are the body’s first responders to infection
  • they fight bacterial infections
  • they “eat” bacteria

Question: Describe the process of transmigration of monocytes.

Answers:

  • monocytes flow in the blood vessels
  • selectins help monocytes to “slow down”
  • ICAMs help monocytes to “stop”
  • ICAMs help monocytes to move through the blood vessel wall and into the connective tissue
  • once a monocyte has entered the connective tissue, it is referred to as a macrophage

Question: Describe how the body uses chemical signals to find the site of infection.

Answers:

  • macrophages and neutrophils find the site of infection by following a chemical trail
  • macrophages follow a chemical trail of C3a’s

Question: Describe how the body uses chemical markers to recognize enemies.

Answer:

  • macrophages and neutrophils recognize LPS as an indicator of bacteria

Question: Describe how macrophages “call” neutrophils for “back up.”

Answer:

  • they release a chemical signal of CXCL8 molecules

>