allergy & immunotherapy

Question 1

5 clinical inidications related to allergy

Answer 1

1. Epithelial – eczema, itching, reddening
2. Excessive mucus production
3. Airway constriction
4. Abdominal bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea
5. Anaphylaxis

Question 2

define allergy

Answer 2

an abnormal response to harmless foreign material

Question 3

what antibody does allergy usually involve

Answer 3

IgE

Question 4

impact of genetic studies on allergy

Answer 4

strong concordance in twin studies

Question 5

cells involved in allergies

Answer 5

Mast, eosinophil, lymphocytes, dendritic

Smooth muscle, fibroblasts, epithelia

Question 6

mediators of allergy

Answer 6

Cytokines, chemokines, lipids, small molecules

Question 7

describe the expression of low affinity IgE receptors

Answer 7

B cells, T cells, monocytes, eosinophils, platelets, neutrophils

Question 8

what causes signalling for Ige receptors

Answer 8

clustering

Question 9

describe the function of low affinity IgE receptors

Answer 9

Regulation of IgE synthesis
Triggering of cytokine release by monocytes
Antigen presentation by cells

Question 10

which cells express high affinity IgE receptor

Answer 10

Eosinophils, mast cells and basophils

Question 11

describe mast cells

Answer 11

IgE-mediated immunity
Heterogeneity
Primary role in innate and acquired immunity
Involved in many disease processes

Question 12

what are the indirect activators via IgE for mast cells

Answer 12

Allergens e.g. wasp venom, pollen
Bacterial/viral antigens
Phagocytosis of enterobacteria

Question 13

what are the direct activators for mast cells

Answer 13

Cold/mechanical of deformation

Aspirin, preservatives, latex

Question 14

4 other cells involved in allergy

Answer 14

1. Lymphocytes – typically Th2
2. Dendritic cells – antigen presentation
3. Neurons – coughing, sneezing etc.
4. Other non-immune cells e.g. fibroblasts, epithelia, smooth muscle

Question 15

5 examples of allergic disease

Answer 15

1. Anaphylaxis
2. Allergic asthma
3. Contact dermatitis
4. Insect venom
5. Food allergies