autoimmunity

Question 1

why does autoimmunity occur ?

Answer 1

this is due to a loss of tolerance to ‘self’ and involves the antibodies and T cells attacking the bodies own cells

Question 2

what is immune tolerance ?

Answer 2

lack of immunological reactivity to an antigen , this can result from Genetic and environmental factors.

Question 3

what is immune tolerance important in causing ?

Answer 3

rheumatois athritis
MS
diabetes
heart disease

Question 4

do the symptoms of autoimmunity normally occur right away or do they take time ?

Answer 4

take time to show symptoms although they could’ve been occurring for a long time

Question 5

describe rheumatoid arthritis ?

Answer 5

it is an autoimmune disease in which the T cells attack the Pannus formation that protects the joint. When this degrades the joint becomes affected

Question 6

why is R.A a multifactorial disease ?

Answer 6

as there are many genes and environmental factors involved which can include smoking , diet and infection

Question 7

what is ankylosing Spondylitis ?

Answer 7

arthritic condition affecting the joints and ligaments of the spine and pelvic girdle. A common symptoms is not being able to straighten the back and they are bent over.

Question 8

what is HLA ?

Answer 8

genes code for MHC

Question 9

if a patient has HLA B27 what does this have a relative risk of 100 for ?

Answer 9

Ankylosing spodylitis

Question 10

although the vast majority of the people with the gene don’t develop A.S , why ?

Answer 10

for the disease you need the gene and the environment. Gene is not the only risk factor.

Question 11

what is klebsiella pneumoniae ?

Answer 11

bacterial infection and it has antigenic determinants similar to B27

Question 12

the similarity to B27 results in molecular mimicry , what is this ?

Answer 12

theoretical possibility that sequence similarities between foreign and self-peptides are sufficient to result in the cross-activation of auto reactive T or B cells by pathogen-derived peptides.

Question 13

what can the environmental factors include?

Answer 13

food , chemicals or radiation

Question 14

what does smoking and pollutant do at a cellular level ?

Answer 14

alteration to the self molecule proteins so their appearance changes and they can no longer be recognised as self to the immune system.

Question 15

what does the thyroid hormone control ?

Answer 15

metabolism

Question 16

who is the affected group of hashimoto’s thyroiditis ?

Answer 16

most common in middle aged women. ‘fat, female and forty

Question 17

describe hasimotos thyroiditis ?

Answer 17

thyroid gland becomes enlarged but there is an insufficient production of the thyroid hormone and this is called hypothyroidism. The gland becomes heavily infiltrated with lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes and this leads to extensive destruction of the thyroid tissue.

Question 18

describe Graves disease ?

Answer 18

thyroid antibodies actually mimic the effect of Thyroid stimulating hormone and this causes an over secretion of thyroid hormone and this is hyperthyroidism.