Allergy Flashcards
What is meant by allergic and hypersensitive reactions?
Undesirable, damaging and sometimes fatal reactions produced by the normal immune system - key factor is its directed against an innocuous antigens in a pre-sensitized host
Which hypersensitivity reactions are Ab mediated and which are cell mediated?
Types 1-3 = Ab mediated
Type 4 = Cell mediated
Type 3 hypersensitivity reactions are also referred to as what?
Immune complex reactions
Type 2 hypersensitivity reactions are also referred to as what?
Cytotoxic reactions
Type 4 hypersensitivity reactions are also referred to as what?
Delayed type
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is the classic allergic reaction?
Type 1
Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions are mediated by which type of Ab?
IgE
Types 2 and 3 hypersensitivity reactions are mediated which types of Ab?
IgG and IgM
What is the immunopathogenesis of a Type 2 Hypersensitivity reaction?
1) IgM/IgG Ab response against combined self/foreign Ag at the cell surface
2) When Ab binds to Ag on solid surface get complement activation and activation of phagocytic cells, ADCC (Ab dependent cellular cytotoxicity)
What are the clinical features of Type 2 cytotoxic reactions?
1) Onset is minutes to hours
2) Cell lysis and necrosis
What is a common antigen causing a Type 2 cytotoxic reaction?
Penicillin
Give 2 diseases associated with Type 2 cytotoxic reactions?
1) Eryhtroblastosis fetalis (Rhesus reaction)
2) Goodpasture’s nephritis
What roughly happens in the rhesus reaction?
Rhesus negative mother - exposed to Rh+ child on first pregnancy and develops antigens - sensitisation
On second pregnancy with Rh+ baby - Abs bind to Ag and get cell lysis
What is the immunopathology of Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction?
IgG/IgM Ab against soluble antigens - immune complex deposition
What are the clinical features of a Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction?
1) Onset 3-8 hours
2) Vasculitis
Type 3 hypersensitivity reactions are the traditional cause of what?
Serum-sickness
Which disease is associated with Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction?
SLE
When the route of entry of antigen is intravenous in a type 3 hypersensitivity reaction what are the 3 resulting diseases and 3 sites of immune complex deposition?
Diseases 1) Vasculitis 2) Nephritis 3) Arthritis Site of deposition 1) Blood vessel walls 2) Renal glomeruli 3) Joint spaces
When the route of entry of antigen is subcutaneous in a type 3 hypersensitivity reaction what is the resulting disease and site of immune complex deposition?
Disease - Arthus reaction
Site - Perivascular area
When the route of entry of antigen is inhaled in a type 3 hypersensitivity reaction what is the resulting disease and side of immune complex deposition?
Disease - Farmer’s lung
Site - Alveolar/Capillary interface
What is the key difference between a Type 2 and 3 hypersensitivity reaction?
Type 2 - Ab against Ag attached to a cell surface so cell lysis
Type 3 - Ab against soluble Ag so immune complex deposition
What is the immunopathology of Type 4 (delayed type) hypersensitivity reaction?
- Ag specific T-cell mediated cytotoxicity
Exposure to Ag, develop T cell which can recognise that Ag
On re-exposure T cells cause tissue damage by release of various mediators
What are the clinical features of a Type 4 hypersensitivity reaction?
1) Delayed onset
2) Erythema induration
Give 1 common Ag in a type hypersensitivity reaction?
Metals eg. nickel
The tuberculin reaction is an example of what kind of hypersensitivity reaction?
Type 4
Give a disease associated with Type 4 hypersensitivity?
Contact dermatitis
What are the 5 key steps in the development of allergy (Type 1 hypersensitivity)?
1) Barrier dysfunction - allowing entry of Ag
2) Sensitisation
3) Changes in T cell sub-sets dominated by Th2
4) IgE Ab produced
5) Allergic symptoms
Which 6 organs are commonly involved in allergic reactions?
1) Eyes - allergic conjunctivitis
2) Nose - allergic rhinitis
3) Mouth - oral allergy syndrome
4) Airways - allergic asthma
5) Skin - atopic dermatitis
6) GI tract - food allergy
What is the link between parasitic infection and allergies?
Those components of the immune system involved in responses to parasitic infection are also involved in allergic responses
The system has developed to produce a rapid tissue-based response to re-infection
What are the main 3 components of immune response to parasitic disease?
1) Increased levels of IgE - total and specific to pathogen
2) Tissue inflammation with eosinophilia and mastocytosis and basophil infiltration
3) Presence of CD4+ cells secreting IL4,IL5 and IL13
What is the general principle of the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ in relation to increased allergies?
Infections seem to have some affect on developing atopic conditions and autoimmune disorders in animal models
Th1 response is thought to be towards management of infections, Th2 response directs towards allergies
Simplistic theory is that if you don’t have the competition from infectious agents, allergens and the Th2 response predominate - in line with the Th2 deviation seen in atopic conditions