Autoimmunity Flashcards
1
Q
self-tolerance
A
immune system able to differentiate self from non-self
2
Q
autoimmunity
A
- l/o self-tolerance for self Ags
- immune system targets self Ags & destroys them (inflm damage & necrosis)
3
Q
ways self-tolerance is lost
A
- molecular mimicry
- abn T-cell response
- disease exposures masked Ags
4
Q
molecular mimicry
A
- Ab detects epitope
- Ab opsonize, neutralize, cause agglutination, activate complement to destroy Ag that have this epitope
- OWN cell has similar epitope.. body confused and Ab binds to own cell & causes step 2 (damage to own cell)
5
Q
abn T-cell response
A
- T cells continue to attack own cells even after foreign cells have been destroyed (inability to suppress immune response)
6
Q
disease exposes masked Ags
A
during immune system development in utero, some parts of body “closed off,” but later if injury occurs at these closed off areas, then blood & lymph exposed for the 1st time and Ab think its foreign and attack those Ags