Autoinflammatory and Autoimmune Disease Flashcards
Define immunopathology.
Damage to the host caused by the immune response
What causes the damage in
- Fevers/malaise seen in primary EBV
- Absces formation
- Sacroiliac joint inflammation in an individual with axial spondyloarthritis
- Anaemia due to red cel haemolytic secondary to anti-red cell antibodies
How do we name the different immunopathologies in the absence of infection?
Define auto-inflammatory diseases.
Local factors at sites predisposed to disease lead to activation of innate immune cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, with resulting tissue damage
Define auto-immune diseases.
Aberrant T cell and B cell responses in primary and secondary lymphoid organs lead to breaking of tolerance with development of immune reactivity towards self-antigens
Organ-specific antibodies may predate clinical
disease by years
Adaptive immune response plays the
predominant role in clinical expression of disease
What are monogenic and polygenic changes?
monogenic - polymorphism in one gene
polygenic - polymorphisms in more than one gene.
Are the immunopathologies monogenic or polygenic?
Define germline mutations.
Germline mutations affecting DNA sequence - Alteration in DNA that occurs in germ cells (sperm and ova and progenitors) and will be passed on to offspring
Define somatic mutations.
– Somatic mutations affecting DNA sequence - Alteration in DNA that occurs in a single body cell after conception, does not affect germ cells and so is not inherited
Define epigenetic.
(Heritable) change in gene expression
(eg via DNA methylation)
Define microRNA.
MicroRNA (miRNA) - Small, non-coding, single stranded RNA
targets mRNA and regulate protein production
Complete.
Define monogenic auto-inflammatory diseases. How do they classically present?
Mutations in a gene encoding a protein involved in a pathway associated with innate immune cell function
Abnormal signalling via key cytokine pathways involving TNF-alpha and/or IL-1 is common
Classically present with
- periodic fevers
- skin/joint/serosal/CNS…. inflammation
- high CRP
What are examples of monogenic auto-inflammatory diseases
Describe the the inflammasome complex in monogenic auto-inflammatory diseases.
Describe the pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever.
Pathogenesis
Autosomal recessive condition
Mutation in MEFV gene
MEFV gene encodes pyrin-marenostrin
Pyrin-marenostrin expressed mainly in neutrophils
Failure to regulate cryopyrin driven activation of neutrophils
What is the epidemiology of familial Mediterranean fever?
What is the clinical presentation of familial Mediterranean fever?
Clinical presentation
Periodic fevers lasting 48-96 hours associated with:
Abdominal pain due to peritonitis
Chest pain due to pleurisy and pericarditis
Arthritis
Rash
What are the complications of familial Mediterranean fever?
What are the Ix for Familial Mediterranean fever=?
High CRP, high SAA
Blood sample to specialist genetics laboratory to identify MEFV mutation
What is the Tx for Familial Mediterranean fever?
Colchicine 500ug bd - binds to tubulin in neutrophils and disrupts neutrophil functions including migration and chemokine secretion
IL-1 blocker (anakinra, canukinumab)
TNF alpha blocker
Define monogenic auto-immune diseases.
Mutation in a gene encoding a protein involved in a pathway associated with adaptive immune cell function
Abnormality of regulatory T cells - IPEX
Abnormality of lymphocyte apoptosis - ALPS
What is the mutation in Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy,enteropathy,
X- linked syndrome
IPEX
Mutations in Foxp3 (Forkhead box p3) which is required for development of Treg cells
Failure to negatively regulate T cell responses
Autoreactive B cells
limited repertoire of autoreactive B cells
What are examples of monogenic auto-immune diseases?
What happens in auto.immune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)?
What markers and complications are usually present in ALPS?
What are examples of polygenic auto-inflammatory diseases?
Crohns disease
Ulcerative colitis
Osteoarthritis
Giant cell arteritis
Takayasu’s arteritis
Define polygenic auto-inflammatory diseases?
Mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in pathways associated with innate immune cell function
Local factors at sites predisposed to disease lead to activation of innate immune cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, with resulting tissue damage
HLA associations are usually less strong
In general these disease are not characterised by presence of auto-antibodies
What are the genetic polymorphisms found in IBD?
Genetic polymorphisms
Familial association studies and twin studies suggested genetic predisposition to disease
15% patients have an affected family member
50% vs <10% disease concordance in monozygotic vs dizygotic twins
>200 disease susceptibility loci found
Describe the mutations found in Crohn’s disease.
IBD1 gene on chromosome 16 identified as NOD2(CARD-15, caspase activating recruitment domain -15).
Three different mutations of this gene have each been shown to be associated with Crohn’s disease.
NOD2 gene mutations are present in 30% patients (ie not necessary)
Abnormal allele of NOD2 increases risk of Crohn’s disease by 1.5-3x if one copy and 14-44x if two copies (ie not sufficient)
Mutations also found in patients with Blau syndrome and some forms of sarcoidosis
Consider all the factors affecting Crohn’s development.
What are the clinical features of CD?
Abdominal pain and tenderness
Diarrhoea (blood, pus, mucous)
Fevers, malaise
What is the Tx for CD?
Corticosteroid
Anti-TNF alpha antibody
What are the mixed pattern diseases?
Axial spondyloarthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Behcet’s syndrome
Define mixed pattern diseases.
Mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in pathways associated with innate immune cell function
And
Mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in pathways associated with adaptive immune cell function
HLA associations may be present
Auto-antibodies are not usually a feature (if present usually autoiommune)
Describe the inheritance pattern and the genes involved of Axial Spondlyoarthitis - Ankylosing spondylitis.
Where is the inflammation in axial spondyloarthritis?
What is the presentation of axial spondyloarthritis?
Low back pain and stiffness
Enthesitis
Large joint arthritis
What is the Tx for axial spondyloarthritis?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Immunosuppression
- Anti-TNF alpha
- Anti-IL17
Familial Mediterranean fever
IPEX syndrome due to FoxP3 mutation
Crohn’s disease
Name the polygenic auto-immune diseases.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Myaesthenia Gravis
Primary biliary cholangitis
Pernicious anaemia
Addison disease
Define polygenic auto-immune diseases.
Mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in pathways associated with adaptive immune cell function
HLA associations are common
Aberrant B cell and T cell responses in primary and secondary lymphoid organs lead to breaking of tolerance with development of immune reactivity towards self-antigens
Auto-antibodies are found