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Immunology > Autoimmunity > Flashcards

Autoimmunity Flashcards

1
Q

What prevents autoimmune diseases in healthy individuals?

A

Thymic deletion of self-reactive T cells peripheral anergy Tregs suppressing self-reactive T cells and negative selection of B and T cells

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2
Q

What is the role of the AIRE gene in autoimmunity prevention?

A

AIRE facilitates thymic expression of tissue-specific antigens for T cell negative selection

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3
Q

What factors influence the development of autoimmune diseases?

A

Genetics HLA alleles environmental triggers infection hormonal factors and defective tolerance mechanisms

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4
Q

What is the relationship between HLA and autoimmune diseases?

A

Most autoimmune diseases are strongly linked to Class II HLA alleles implicating CD4+ T cells in pathogenesis

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5
Q

What are examples of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases?

A

Myasthenia gravis Graves’ disease systemic lupus erythematosus SLE

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6
Q

What are examples of cell-mediated autoimmune diseases?

A

Type 1 diabetes rheumatoid arthritis multiple sclerosis

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7
Q

What is the difference between tissue-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases?

A

Tissue-specific diseases target a single organ such as Type 1 diabetes while systemic diseases affect multiple systems such as SLE

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8
Q

What is molecular mimicry in autoimmunity?

A

Viral or bacterial antigens resemble self-antigens triggering cross-reactive immune responses

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9
Q

What are examples of localized antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases?

A

Myasthenia gravis acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies and Graves’ disease TSH receptor autoantibodies

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10
Q

What is the mechanism of Graves’ disease?

A

Autoantibodies against the TSH receptor act as agonists stimulating thyroid hormone production and causing hyperthyroidism

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11
Q

What is the mechanism of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

A

Autoantibodies against the TSH receptor act as antagonists inhibiting thyroid hormone production and causing hypothyroidism

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12
Q

What are examples of systemic antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases?

A

Haemolytic anemia RhD antigen Goodpasture’s syndrome type IV collagen and SLE nuclear antigens

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13
Q

What are the pathogenic mechanisms of autoantibodies?

A

Blocking or activating receptors complement-mediated lysis and immune complex formation causing inflammation

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14
Q

What is the role of Tregs in maintaining tolerance?

A

Tregs suppress self-reactive T cells and limit autoimmune responses by producing IL-10 and TGF-beta

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15
Q

What is the significance of HLA-B27 in ankylosing spondylitis?

A

HLA-B27 is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis implicating CD8+ T cells in disease development

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16
Q

What are the hormonal influences on autoimmunity?

A

Females are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases due to hormonal differences and stronger immune responses

17
Q

What is the role of X-chromosome inactivation in autoimmunity?

A

Incomplete inactivation may lead to increased expression of proinflammatory genes contributing to autoimmunity in females

18
Q

What is the role of environmental factors in autoimmunity?

A

Factors like infections diet pollution and smoking can trigger autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible individuals

19
Q

What is coeliac disease?

A

An autoimmune reaction to gluten associated with HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 causing damage to the gut epithelium

20
Q

What is the hygiene hypothesis in autoimmunity?

A

Reduced exposure to infections in developed countries increases the risk of autoimmune diseases by limiting immune system development

21
Q

What are common autoimmune diseases associated with HLA-DR alleles?

A

Rheumatoid arthritis DR4 multiple sclerosis DR2 SLE DR3 and Type 1 diabetes DR3 or DR4

22
Q

What is the role of CD4+ T cells in autoimmune diseases?

A

CD4+ T cells mediate tissue damage through cytokines and help activate autoreactive B cells and CD8+ T cells

23
Q

What are the mechanisms of cell-mediated autoimmune diseases?

A

CD4+ T cells release proinflammatory cytokines or attract macrophages and neutrophils and CD8+ T cells directly kill host cells

24
Q

What is Type 1 diabetes and its link to HLA-DQ alleles?

A

Type 1 diabetes is strongly linked to HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 alleles which bind insulin and other peptides to activate autoreactive T cells

25
Q

How do infections trigger autoimmunity?

A

Infections cause inflammation tissue damage and release of self-antigens which may activate autoreactive T or B cells

26
Q

How does narcolepsy relate to autoimmunity?

A

Linked to HLA-DR2 and triggered by loss of hypocretin neurons due to CD8+ T cells targeting these neurons

27
Q

How does haemolytic disease of the newborn involve autoimmunity?

A

Maternal anti-Rh antibodies cross the placenta and destroy fetal red blood cells if the fetus is Rh positive

28
Q

What is the best treatment for coeliac disease?

A

Complete avoidance of gluten-containing foods

Immunology (25 decks)

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