Autoimmune diseases Flashcards
What 3 factors contribute to the development of autoimmune disease?
1) Genes
2) Immune regulation
3) Environment
What is the most common gene implicated in autoimmune disease?
MHC/HLA
What role do MHC/HLA genes play in autoimmune disease?
MHC/HLA genes have different subtypes DR1, DR2 etc. each of them has a different shape which are better at presenting particular Ags, eg. the Ab found in rheumatoid arthritis directly fits into the type of MHC gene associated with rheumatoid arthritis
What are the 2 types of MHC/HLA?
Class 1 - all cells have it, important in viral infection and malignancy
Class 2 - found in APCs, pick up Ag from elsewhere in the body and take them to T cells
What MHC/HLA gene is found commonly in Type 1 DM? 2
DR3,DR4
What MHC/HLA gene is found in MS? 1
DR2
What MHC/HLA gene is found in Graves Disease?
DR3
What 2 MHC/HLA genes are commonly found in systemic lupus erythematosus?
DR2, DR3
What 2 MHC/HLA genes are commonly found in rheumatoid arthritis?
DR1, DR4
How is the FOXP3 gene implicated in autoimmune diseases?
Mutation of FOXP3 causes failure to develop regulatory T cells - severe autoimmunity from birth
How is the PTPN22 gene implicated in autoimmune diseases?
Mutations in PTPN22 cause T cells to be activated more easily - get a stronger immune response in general
Where does the process of developing central tolerance take place?
1) B cells in bone marrow
2) T cells in the thymus
Other than genetics what other factors show a causative association with autoimmune diseases?
1) Sex - more common women
2) Age - more common in the elderly
3) Sequestered Ag - may be recognised as foreign by the immune system eg. cell nucleus, eye, testis
4) Environmental triggers
Name 3 environmental for autoimmune disease development?
1) Infection
2) Trauma-tissue damage
3) Smoking
Which environmental trigger is most important in rheumatoid arthritis?
smoking
In what 3 ways does autoimmunity cause disease? 3
1) Autoreactive B cells and auto-Ab - directly cytotoxic, activation of complement, interfere with normal physiological function
2) Autoreactive T cells - directly cytotoxic, inflammatory cytokine production
3) General inflammation and end-organ damage
What are the 2 main differences between organ specific and systemic autoimmune diseases?
1) Organ specific = 1 organ
Systemic = affects several organs simultaneously
2) Organ specific = autoimmunity restricted to autoantigens of that organ
Systemic = Autoimmunity associated with autoantigens found in most cells of body
Organ specific autoimmune diseases often overlap with other organ specific diseases, which is typical?
Autoimmune thyroid disease
Systemic autoimmune diseases often overlap with other non-organ specific autoimmune diseases, which are typical?
Connective tissue disease
What is the basic disease process of Hashimotos thyroiditis?
1) Destruction of thyroid follicles by autoimmune process
2) Leads to hypothyroidism
What are the 2 types of auto-Ab associated with Hashimotos thyroiditis?
1) Auto-Ab to thyroglobulin
2) Auto-Ab to thyroid peroxidase
What is the disease process of Grave’s disease?
1) Inappropriate stimulation of thyroid gland by anti-TSH-autoantibody
2) Leads to hyperthyroidism