Deck 4: Endocrine-Immune Modulation

Question 1

The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus has a direct influence over

A) the release of ACTH
B) the activity of the autonomic nervous system
C) the release of growth hormone
D) all of the above

Answer 1

all of the above

Question 2

Cytokines are large molecules which participate in intercellular communication. They are released by

A) anterior pituitary cells
B) glial cells
C) both a and b
D) immune cells only

Answer 2

both a and b

Question 3

Modulation of lymphocyte activity by a particular hormone would be considered a paracrine effect only if the hormone was released by

A) the lymphocyte itself
B) a proximal leukocyte
C) a distal glandular cell
D) none of the above

Answer 3

a proximal leukocyte

Question 4

Corticotropin releasing hormone

A) is found only within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
B) causes the release of luteinizing hormone
C) has no direct effect on immune cells
D) acts as a neuromodulator

Question 5

The thymus gland is

A) above the midbrain and nestled between the cerebral hemispheres
B) considered to be part of the endocrine system
C) a primary lymphoid organ
D) both b and c

Question 6

Which of the following statements is false

A) CRH causes the release of POMC cleavage products
B) CRH effect on ACTH release is augmented by AVP
C) CRH increases the release of ACTH
D) CRH decreases the release of β-endorphin

Question 7

The release of pituitary hormones is directly influenced by neurons located

A) in the substantia nigra
B) only within the paraventricular nucleus
C) within the hypothalamus
D) within endocrine nuclei of the thalamus

Question 8

Hormones released by the posterior pituitary gland include

A) prolactin
B) oxytocin
C) somatostatin
D) all of the above

Question 9

Increased prolactin levels are observed

A) in response to drugs that stimulate D2 receptors
B) as an early indication of transplanted tissue rejection
C) in response to dopamine agonists
D) all of the above

Question 10

Which of the following is not an effect of glucocorticoids

A) diminish antibody synthesis
B) down regulate antigen presentation
C) diminish inflammation
D) shift balance away from cell-mediated adaptive immunity

Question 11

Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the

A) liver
B) pineal gland
C) pituitary gland
D) gastrointestinal tract

Question 12

Testosterone and progesterone both

A) enhance immune responsiveness
B) enhance the activity of the HPA axis
C) decrease immune responsiveness
D) decrease susceptibility to infection

Question 13

Immune effects of pituitary-adrenal hormones are

A) immunoenhacing
B) immunosuppressive
C) dependent on the number of glucocorticoid receptors expressed
D) proinflammatory

Question 14

The relationship between the immune system and the hypothalamic-pituitary- gonadal system is best described as

A) counterintuitive
B) interdependent
C) parallel
D) unidirectional

Question 15

Gonadal steroids affect immune responses through their action on

A) the activity of the HPA axis
B) the thymic epithilium
C) cytoplasmic receptors found in all leukocytes
D) both a and b

Question 16

Regulation of the release of any of the pituitary hormones is best understood as resulting from

A) the convergence of multiple influences acting via specific receptors
B) hormonal feedback acting on binding proteins
C) circadian influences causing the release of neurotransmitters
D) macromolecular sensing by circumventricular structures

Question 17

Growth hormone

A) reverses the effect of hypophysectomy
B) gives credence to the existence of a pituitary-liver axis
C) has immune suppressive effects overall
D) both a and b

Question 18

Which of the following statements is false

A) immune cells do not produce pituitary hormones
B) pituitary cells produce cytokines
C) adipose tissue has endocrine effects
D) cytokines alter endocrine activity

Question 19

Removal of the pituitary gland has been found to

A) prolong survival under normal conditions
B) have no effect on learning and memory
C) cause atrophy of the lymph nodes
D) paradoxically increase NK activity

Question 20

The pituitary gland releases

A) glucocorticoids
B) β-endorphin
C) insulin like growth factor-1
D) calcitonin

Question 21

Insulin, parathyroid hormone, and melatonin effects on immune activity have been respectively found to be

A) mediated by endogeneous opioids, counteracted by IL-4, anti inflammatory
B) counteracted by IL-4, anti inflammatory, mediated by endogeneous opioids
C) anti inflammatory, counteracted by IL-4, mediated by endogeneous opioids
D) anti inflammatory, mediated by endogeneous opioids, counteracted by IL-4

Question 22

Thyroid hormones affect immune activity as follows

A) only low levels diminish immune responsiveness
B) normal levels have intermediate effects on immune responsiveness
C) normal levels have optimal effects on immune responsiveness
D) high levels enhance immune responsiveness

Question 23

Which of the following appears to inhibit the release of AVP from the posterior pituitary

A) opioid peptides
B) atrial natriuretic peptide
C) dopamine
D) angiotensin II

Question 24

Oxytocin has been found to

A) facilitathe the production of IFN-γ by T cells
B) inhibit cell-mediated immune responses
C) increase the release of IL-6
D) slow down wound healing

Question 25

The release of which of the following hormones is controlled by the level of extracellular calcium

A) melatonin
B) parathyroid hormone
C) insulin
D) none of the above

Question 26

Which of the following is true

A) hormones released by the stomach have no effect on immune responses
B) the cardiovascular system has a hormonal effect on immune responses
C) adipose tissue has no anti-inflammatoryactivity
D) endocrine effects on immune function are well understood

Question 27

Hormonal infuences on the thymus

A) are unidirectional
B) are mediated solely by thyroid hormones
C) can increase T-cell proliferation and repertoire diversity
D) all of the above

Question 28

Endocrine signalling may be characterized as a process whereby

A) energy resources are realocated according to circadian inputs
B) energy resources are realocated according to situational inputs
C) energy resources are equitably distributed to all tissues
D) both a and b.

Question 29

The release of TRH is influenced by

A) dopaminergic neurons
B) neuropeptide Y
C) adipose tissue
D) all of the above