Autoimmunity Flashcards
what is epitope spreading
as an autoimmune disease progresses, new T and/or B cells are activated against new epitopes from proteins either driving the response or a newly liberated protein from tissue damage aka multiple Ag drive waves of T or B cell responses (makes it a chronic disorder)
what drives autoimmune diseases
T and B cell reactivity to select Ags and epitopes (immunodominant) derived from specific organs or tissues
what does immunodominant mean
the primary epitope/peptide driving the disease
how is autoimmunity classified?
according to the effector mechanisms causing the disease which fall into 3 kinds of hypersensitivity reactions (II, III, IV)
what occurs in autoimmunity corresponding to type II hypersensitivity
Ab are directed against Ag of cell surfaces or the extracellular matrix
how does autoimmune hemolytic anemia work?
IgG and IgM bind to Ags on RBC surface–>complement fixation–>RBC lysis via MAC or removal via opsonization lead to anemia
what occurs in autoimmunity corresponding to type III hypersensitivity?
Ab are directed against SOLUBLE Ag forming immune complexes that deposit in tissues
how does vasculitis from systemic lupus erythematosus work?
IgG bind to soluble Ag in blood–>form immune complexes–>lodge in areas of high pressure–>complement fixation–>frustrated phagocytes spew contents–>tissue inflammation and damage = vasculitis
what occurs in autoimmunity corresponding to type IV hypersensitivity?
T cells specific to self Ag are activated and produce cytokines and/or produce cytotoxic compounds to destroy tissue cells
how does myelin destruction in MS work?
myelin Ags are presented to self reactive CD4 and CD8 cells–>these cells infiltrate the CNS–>Th cells produce IFNgamma to cause direct and indirect damage via macrophages, CTL contribute to damage and some neuron damage = demyelination and sclerotic plaque formation
what causes type I diabetes?
damage to Beta cells leads to failure to produce insulin (insulin dependent DM, juvenile onset diabetes)
what type of hypersensitivity is T1D?
type IV
what is insulitis
when T cell reactivity is initiated early in life with progressive infiltration of islets over time (slow destruction)
why does T1D have slow onset?
initial excess of beta cell and the slow rate of beta cell destruction
what occurs in stage 1 of the development of T1D?
beta cell autoimmunity and loss is present with the presence of autoantibodies (insulinitis) but there are no symptoms or abnormal glucose
what occurs in stage 2 of the development of T1D?
beta cell autoimmunity and loss is present with autoantibodies and hyperglycemia, but no symptoms yet
what occurs in stage 3 of the development of T1D?
beta cell autoimmunity and loss is present with autoAb, hyperglycemia, and symptoms of diabetes
what are the steps to generate autoimmunity?
- generate a pool of self reactive lymphocytes
- release and chronic presence of self Ag
- activation of self-reactive lymphocytes
- destruction of self-Ag expressing target cells
what HLA molecule is present in all individuals?
DRB1
what second HLA molecule is carried by some individuals?
DRB3, DRB4, DRB5; the Beta chain is highly polymorphic
what chain is most affiliated with autoimmunity and why?
beta chain of HLA-DR because the beta chain has the most polymorphic/variable alleles
what haplotypes of HLA are associated with susceptibility and resistance to T1D?
HLA-DQ and HLA-DR
why does having 2 allotypes of DQ2 and DQ8 increase susceptibility to T1D?
the recombination of components of DQ2 and DQ8 increases susceptibility
what allotype gives 10x more risk of having T1D?
HLA-DQ2 = HLA-DQA1*0501:HLA-DQB1*0201 HLA-DQ8 = HLA-DQA1*03:HLA-DQB*0302
what combination haplotype gives the increased susceptibility to T1D?
HLA-DQ8 alpha chain DQA103
and
HLA-DQ2 beta chain DQB10201
= HLA-DQA103:HLA-DQB10201
which other haplotypes have a profound impact upon T1D susceptibility when coexpressed with DQ2, DQ8 or 03:0201?
HLA-DRB103 = DR3
HLA-DRB104 = DR4
aka
HLA-DR
what is the HIGHEST disease susceptibility to T1D?
DQA103:DQB10201 heterodimer combined with HLA-DR3 or HLA-DR4
why do these haplotypes lead to such susceptibility for disease?
MTEC and thymic DC HLA are missing appropriate binding pockets for residues of beta cell Ag, so the HLA poorly presents the self Ag in the thymus during negative selection, and the poor presentation generates a pool of self reactive T cells (because they think the weak TCR signaling is good, but it’s just because it just can’t bind in general)
describe the affinity of self reactive T cells
not all self reactive T cells have a higher affinity for self Ag, some have lower avidity (affinity) TCR
what is the impact of weak binding pocket of HLA in the periphery?
Ag is presented many many times (chronic presentation) so the T cell is activated slowly
what is the 2nd step of autoimmunity?
an unknown trigger (virus or infection?) leads to release of beta cell Ag and maturation of DC, which migrate to the draining lymph node carrying the beta cell Ag – off to display a chronic presence of self Ag
what occurs once the beta cell Ag-carrying DC reach the LN?
self-reactive lymphocytes are activated and pools of beta cell Ag-specific T cells migrate to the pancreas
how are self-reactive T cells activated in the lymphoid organs since peripheral tolerance should prevent this?
there is a defect in CTLA-4, PD-1, and/or Fas/FasL to get around peripheral tolerance
what do mature DC do when approaching self-reactive lymphocytes?
mature DC CD80/86 and PDL1/2 bind to T cell CTLA-4 and PD-1 to activate phosphatases within the activated T cells. These phosphatases inhibit the TCR/CD28 mediated signals. Therefore, the activated T cells are rendered anergic and no longer proliferate.
what specific defects in gene expression, structure and signaling of CTLA-4 and PD-1 are associated with T1D?
- truncated structure of CTLA-4 (IDDM12)
- reduced expression of PD-1 and PDL1
(this is why anti-PD1/PDL1 can trigger T1D in cancer pt)
what role does Fas play in lymphocyte activation?
FasL is expressed by T cells, B cells after activation. Tcell-Tcell interaction through Fas/FasL induces apoptosis to help promote contraction of the T cell response, and is actually an important pathway of cytotoxicity (how cells kill others)