Allergy

Question 1

What indicates the presence of an allergy?

Answer 1

1. Allergen-specific IgE presence
2. Mast cell/eosiniphil recruitment
3. Th2 resposne with IL-4,5,13

Question 2

What is atopy?

Answer 2

Likelihood of developing a hypersensitivity reaction to common allergens

Question 3

What is the chemical structure of most allergens?

Answer 3

Protein or glycoproteins

Question 4

How do allergens activate the innate immune system?

Answer 4

1. Enzymatic activity

2. Activating PRR

Question 5

Allergic rhinitis is more commonly found with what?

Answer 5

Outdoor allergens

Question 6

The protease activity of allergens lends them what benefit?

Answer 6

Ability to cross the skin or mucosal barrier

Question 7

What factor would contribute to the over development of Th2 which would make a person more susceptible to develop allergies?

Answer 7

1. Antibiotic use
2. Urban life
3. Diet
4. Sensitization to house-dust, mites, bugs

Question 8

What gene polymorphism same considered to contribute to the formation of allergic disease?

Answer 8

1. High Fcepsilon beta chain receptor
2. IL-4 gene (upregulated)
3. HLA-DR
4. CD14

Question 9

What can contribute to reducing the development of atopic phenotypes (Type I hypersensitivity reaction)?

Answer 9

Increasing development of Th1 cells will help increase the Treg cells produced early in life. Furthermore, reduce the Th2 cells that are produced early in life, reducing ability for Type I reactions

Question 10

What factors help contribute to Th1 stimulation and therefore reducing the overpopulation of Th2 cells?

Answer 10

1. Rural life
2. Siblings
3. Helminth infections
4. LPS exposure
5. Exposure to multiple antigens

Question 11

Allergens are proteins or glycoproteins meaning they will interact with what cells for presentation?

Answer 11

1. APC for MHCII presentation which causes release of IL-4 from the DC, causing differentiation of T cell into Th2

Question 12

What is the effect of histamine release?

Answer 12

Smooth muscle contraction, vascular permeability

Question 13

What is the effect of TNF-alpha and IL-1

Answer 13

target to endothelial cells, causing inflammation

Question 14

What is the effect of tryptase?

Answer 14

Causes anaphylaxis and urticaria

Question 15

What is the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)?

Answer 15

Cause pain and increase vascular permeability

Question 16

What is the effect of PGD2 and leukotrienes?

Answer 16

Smooth muscle contraction and vascular permeability

Question 17

What is the effect of bradykinin?

Answer 17

Vasodilation, which can cause hypotension

Question 18

What are the different mechanisms for desensitization?

Answer 18

1. IgG blocking antibodies
2. Regulation
3. Immune deviation

Question 19

How does IgG blocking antibodies promote a mechanism of desensitization?

Answer 19

IgG4 will continue to develop and compete for allergen binding with IgE. Reducing the ability for IgE to bind with Fc(epsilon)RI and cause de granulation of mast cells.

Question 20

How does regulation of mechanisms of desensitization essentially reduce allergen sensitivity?

Answer 20

This will increase the number of T red cells which can more effectively reduce migration/infiltration/inflammation of the other cell types

Question 21

How can immune deviation contribute to the desensitization mechanism for type I hypersensitivity reactions?

Answer 21

Reduce Th2 and increase Th1. Th1 are inhibitory to Th2 formation, which will reduce IgE production and therefore the ability for mast cells to bind and become de granulated.

Question 22

What is an allergen?

Answer 22

Ag that stimulates allergic reaction with little or no intrinsic activity