Autoimmune

Question 1

What is a autoantigen

Answer 1

an autoantigen is an endogenous molecule that is recognised as a foreign substance by the immune system and releases a specific response against it in an autoimmune disease. the distribution of the autoantigen will determine if the diseases manifests a organ specific or non-organ specific.

Question 2

Autoimmunity

Answer 2

failure to differentiate between self and non-self reffered to as the breakdown of (central and pheriperal) self tolerance
-central tolerance occurs in the thymus(t cells) or bone marrow (bone marrow )
- slef reactive t and b cells are not released systemically and undergo apoptosis

Question 3

Causes of autoimmune disease : genetics

Answer 3

strongest known genetic associations are linked to MHC complex .(MHC complexes are made up of Human leukocyte antigen
TABLE IN NOTES pg.6 2 auto intro. Genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes is increased with alteration of a single amino acid in the MHC genes

Question 4

other causes of autoimmune disease

Answer 4

-autoimmune disease occur more frequently in female(75%) than males and this is generally in the child bearing years .eg. rheumatoid arthritis resolves during pregnancy and increases after birth
-diet, environmental risk, infections and drugs

Question 5

3 ways autoimmune disease can be expressed:

Answer 5

-production of autoantibody against a self antigen that results in the opsonisation and activation of classic complement pathway.
- deposition of antibody -antigen complex into blood vessels, resulting in inflammation and injury to the blood vessels (vasculitis)
- t -cell mediated diseases whereby cytotoxic t-cells react with self-antigen and other cells that express that antigen

treatment = supression of immune system

Question 6

primary target of rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 6

A chronic disease that autoantibodies primarily targets synovial tissues(joint tissue) . resultant pain, inflammation and loss of function. environmental risk factor include smoking status and periodontal disease ( infection and inflammation of gum and bones)

Question 7

Rheumatoid arthritis: joint symptoms
Pathophysiology on Pg. 5

Answer 7

joint stiffness in morning, resolves with activity . joints are warm, painful and swollen. limited range of motion leading to atrophy of muscles . symptoms are often cyclical ( sudden repeated attacks like episode)

Question 8

steroids effects to treat rheuatoid arthrirtis

Answer 8

Glucocorticoids : have metabolic effect to increase blood sugar, amino acids and tryglycerides,
have antinflammatory effects: inhibits phospholipase A2 and also archidonic acid and therefore other cytokines. Immunsupressant effects pg. 5
Mineralcorticoids: water and sodium retaining properties.

Question 9

Degree of HPA suppresion is dependent on 3 things and can lead to atrophy of adrenal gland

Answer 9

-prior use of corticosteroids
-length of time of corticosteroid use
-dose of corticosteroid use
dose of corticosteroids must therefore be tapered to allow adrenal gland to grow back to normal size.

Question 10

autoimmune diseases glucocorticoids can treat

Answer 10

Rheumatoid arthritis
inflammatory bowel disease
psoriasis