a. Compare levels of eicosanoids, endotoxins (eg, LPS), and exotoxins within the ‘contaminated’ tissues and replicate study with fresh PBS. Comparing inflammatory cytokine levels may also be beneficial; however, given that they are implicated in / linked to a number of processes and pathologies one needs to know which one in particular to look at.
b. If I understand what is being asked here, generally speaking bacteria enters the body leading to the communication of visceral inflammatory signals to the brain via afferent fibers of the vagus nerve. Blood flow is increased as a result of vessel dilation and leads to swelling in the tissue. It is during this time that the permeability of the vasculature increases allowing particular white blood cells (neutrophils and monocytes for innate immunity and lymphocytes for adaptive immunity) to enter the area and clean up. This then allows for tissue repair to occur. The main element in the initiation of inflammation is NFKB- leading to the activation and release of cytokines and effector cells. However, there is also neuroinflammation to consider. It is not a process so dissimilar to what happens in the periphery as there is cross talk between the immune and nervous systems. The cross talk which occurs is a result of: chemokines, cytokines, and neurotrophic factors. Microglia are considered to be the “immune system” of the brain. They protect the brain from invading microorganisms/ pathogens and are similar in nature to microphages. Astrocytes also play a role in this system as they are there to help maintain the neuronal environment and alerts/initiates the system through secreted neurotrophic factors and cytokines.
b. If I understand what is being asked here, generally speaking bacteria enters the body leading to the communication of visceral inflammatory signals to the brain via afferent fibers of the vagus nerve. Blood flow is increased as a result of vessel dilation and leads to swelling in the tissue. It is during this time that the permeability of the vasculature increases allowing particular white blood cells (neutrophils and monocytes for innate immunity and lymphocytes for adaptive immunity) to enter the area and clean up. This then allows for tissue repair to occur. The main element in the initiation of inflammation is NFKB- leading to the activation and release of cytokines and effector cells. However, there is also neuroinflammation to consider. It is not a process so dissimilar to what happens in the periphery as there is cross talk between the immune and nervous systems. The cross talk which occurs is a result of: chemokines, cytokines, and neurotrophic factors. Microglia are considered to be the “immune system” of the brain. They protect the brain from invading microorganisms/ pathogens and are similar in nature to microphages. Astrocytes also play a role in this system as they are there to help maintain the neuronal environment and alerts/initiates the system through secreted neurotrophic factors and cytokines.