Autoimmunity Flashcards

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1
Q

Define autoimmunity

A
  • loss of tolerance to ‘self’
  • immune mechanisms destroy healthy tissue
  • organ specific - systemic
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2
Q

What is the pathology is associated with autoimmune disease ?

A

characterised by immune processes causing tissue damage - both cellular & humoral responses
- familial clustering

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3
Q

What are some examples of autoimmune diseases mediated by direct cellular damage ?

A
  • Hashimoto’s - thyroid proteins
  • pernicious anaemia - intrinsic factor
  • goodpasture’s syndrome - basement membrane
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4
Q

What are some examples of autoimmune diseases mediated by autoantibodies ?

A
  • Graves’ disease = TSH receptor
  • Myasthenia gravis = acetylcholine receptor
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5
Q

What are some examples of systemic autoimmune disorders ?

A
  • systemic lupus erythematosus
  • multiple sclerosis
  • rheumatoid arthritis
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6
Q

Describe the pathology of systemic lupus erythematosus

A
  • Ab to many tissue Ags –> DNA, histones, red cell proteins, platelets
  • Ab-Ag interaction causes variety of symptoms - eg fever, weakness, arthritis
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7
Q

Describe the pathology of multiple sclerosis

A
  • inflammatory lesions in CNS result in damage to myelin with subsequent neurological dysfunction
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8
Q

What mechanism support tolerance of self-cells ?

A
  • deletion - self-reactive T cell elimination in thymus & B cell in bone marrow
  • Anergy - potentially self reactive cells in peripheral circulation are ‘switched off’
  • variation in immunogenicity & sequestration
  • immune regulation = antibody network, cytokines & neuroendocrine mechanisms
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9
Q

What are some processes in autoimmunity ?

A
  • Ag processing
  • autoantibodies
  • cytokines
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10
Q

Describe Ag processing

A

association of susceptibility with particular MHC alleles & other genetic variation

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11
Q

What are some therapeutic approaches to autoimmunity ?

A
  • conventional immunosuppression
  • induction of tolerance
  • use of cytokine inhibitors
  • treat symptoms
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