autoimmunity Flashcards
What type of immune response is not present in any type of autoimmunity?
no IgE mediated responses
What is autoimmunity?
adaptive immunity specific for self-antigens
The cause of many autoimmune diseases are not known but what are the 3 main types that are known?
break down in the self-tolerance mechanisms of immune system
some mediated by Abs, others by T cells
some initiated by response to pathogens (molecular mimicry)
What are the simlarities of Type II autoimmunity and type II hypersensitivity?
mediated by Abs
specific for cell surface/ECM
What are the similarities of type III autoimmunity and type III hypersensitivity?
mediated by Abs
caused by immine complexes
What are the similarities of type IV autoimmunity and Type IV hypersensitivity?
mediated by T cells
What are mechanisms that contribute to immunological self-tolerance?
- negative selection in bone marrow and thymus
- expressionof tissue-specific proteins in thymus
- no lymphocyte access to some tissues
- suppression of autoimmune responses by Treg cells
- induction of anergy in autoreactive B and T cells
What is autoimmune hemolytic anemia?
a disease that is caused by Ab (IgG or IgM) specific for surface antigens of erythrocytes
What can autoimmune hemolytic anemia result in?
activation of classical complement pathway
can result in uptake of opsonized RBC by phagocytes (in spleen) bearin either complement or Fc receptors
both result in RBC destruction
How would you detect autoimmune hemolytic anemia?
Direct Coomb’s hemagglutination assasys detect auto-Abs bound to patient’s RBCs
What is autoimmune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura?
1) IgG mediated inhibition of an enzyme responsible for cleavage of von Willdebrand factor (vWF)
vWF links platelets and blood vessels with clots
2) caused by platelet specific auto-Abs in IgG
What can cause autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura?
caused by platelet specific auto-Abs in IgG
How would you diagnose a patient with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura?
observation of microangioplastic hemolytic anemia
low platelet counts
presence of schistocytes (broken RBCs)
How would you treat autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura?
plasmapheresis (exchange transfusion) with plasma from healthy donors
rutiximab
RhoGam
steroids
splenectomy
infusion of gamma globulin
What is good pasture’s syndrome?
Ab specific for type IV collaen which lines basement membranes thru-out the body
In good pasture’s syndrome, what initiates the response and what are the results?
Ab initiates inflammatory response
kidney damage results
How is goodpasture’s syndrome treated?
plasma exchange and anti-inflammatory drugs
What is schleroderma?
inflammatory destruction of vascular endothelial cells of arterioles and smooth muscle cells
IgG mediated
many times replacement with collagen and other fibrous materials
Other than vascular endothelial cells what else can be affected by schleroderma?
kidneys, blood vessels, liver, brain
What are the symptoms of schleroderma?
localized or systemic symmetrical skin thickening
hard, smooth ivory colored areas of hardened skin
Rh factor not required for disease
How would you diagnose a person with schleroderma?
presence of anti-nuclear Abs
anti-topoisomerase Abs
anti-centromere Abs (IgGs)
How would you treat someone with schleroderma?
no known cure or standard treatment
drugs can be given to increase the blood flow to extremities