Crash course: hypersensitivity, transplant, therapeutics, HIV Flashcards
What is Gel and Coomb’s Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction?
Anaphylactic
Immediate hypersensitivity
IgE mediated. Mast cells + Eosinophils. (Rarely self antigen)
What is the pathophysiology of a T1 hypersensitivity reaction?
1st exposure: SENSITISATION
APCs take antigen to LN, presents to + primes Th2 cells
Cytokine release by Th2:
* IL-4: B cell class switching- produce specific IgE which primes mast cells via Fc region
* IL-5: promotes eosinophil development + proliferation
2nd exposure: ALLERGY
Allergens bind to IgE on mast cells → degranulation
Release histamine →
SM contraction + vasodilation
What are the 2 types of IgE mediated allergic disease?
Anaphylaxis
Oral allergy syndrome
What occurs in oral allergy syndrome?
Sx limited to mouth
- Inhale pollen, produce IgE
- Antibodies cross react with pollen proteins shared by fruits e.g. pear
Heat labile allergens- No Sx if cooked
Give 1 example of mixed IgE + cell mediated allergic disease
Atopic dermatitis
Give 1 example of non-IgE mediated allergic disease. What is the mechanism?
Coeliac
Local lymphocytic destruction, more chronic picture with damage occurring over time
What is the management of anaphylaxis?
A-E
Call for help
Remove trigger, position supine, raise legs
IM adrenaline 1:1000, repeat if no response
IV crystalloid
Antihistamines only after airway, breathing + circulation corrected
NO steroids
By what mechanism does adrenaline act on receptors in treatment of anaphylaxis?
Alpha1: causes peripheral vasoconstriction, reverses low BP + mucosal oedema
Beta1: increases HR + contractility + BP
Beta2: relaxation of bronchial SM + reduces release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells/ basophils
What are the positives (3) and negatives (4) of skin prick testing?
+ve’s:
Rapid
Cheap
NPV 95%
-ve’s:
Need to stop antihistamine
Poor PPV
Affected by derm disease e.g. eczema
Risk of anaphylaxis
When is IgE blood testing used for allergic disease? What is the disadvantage?
Test of choice if SPT/ IDT not possible
PREDICTION of allergy only (sensitisation- levels of IgE + affinity to allergen)
What is the gold standard investigation for allergy? What does this involve? What are the disadvantages ?
Oral challenge
Give increasing doses of food suspected to be allergic to
High risk of anaphylaxis
Time consuming
What is Gel and Coomb’s Type 2 hypersensitivity reaction?
Cytotoxic
Antibody reacts with CELLULAR antigen (intrinsic/ extrinsic)
What is a pre-requisite for Type 2 hypersensitivity reactions?
Breaking of central tolerance
(Any cell that is capable of recognizing self proteins should be destroyed, sometimes this doesn’t happen → auto-reactive B cells)
What are the intrinsic and extrinsic antigens targeted in type 2 hypersensitivity reactions?
Intrinsic (in cells/ on cell surface)
Extrinsic (if take meds, peptides end up on surface of host cells e.g. penicillin peptides→ auto-reactive cells attack the cells displaying the antigen)
What occurs in Type II reactions?
B cells usually producing IgG to antigen within host trigger phagocytosis, complement cascade + MAC activation → cell lysis + cytolytic granules released
Give 2 examples of Type 2 hypersensitivity reactions
Goodpasture disease
Pemphigus vulgaris
What is the antigen targeted in Goodpastures disease? Give 2 symptoms
Basement membrane of collagen type IV
Glomerulonephritis
Pulmonary haemorrhage: haemoptysis
What is the antigen targeted in Pemphigus vulgaris? Give 1 symptom
Epidermal cadherin
Skin blistering
What is a variant of type 2 hypersensitivity reactions? What happens? Give 2 examples
Type 5 hypersensitivity reactions
Ab doesn’t cause destruction, but interferes with normal functions- blocks receptor or overstimulates
Graves disease
Myasthenia gravis
What is the antigen targeted in Graves disease? What does this cause?
TSH receptor (overstimulation)
Hyperthyroidism
What is the antigen targeted in Myasthenia gravis? What does this cause?
ACh receptor (blocks)
Muscle weakness (blocked action potentials)
What is Gel and Coomb’s Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction?
Immune complex.
IgG antibody reacts with SOLUBLE antigen to form an immune complex.
What is the pathophysiology of Type 3 hypersensitivity reactions?
Immune complexes form clumps → activation of complement
Complement acts as anaphylatoxins- causes oedema, inflammation, skin reactions
Recruitment of other immune cells. Phagocytes fail to phagocytose immune complexes, releasing enzymes in process
What does the release of enzymes by phagocytes in type 3 hypersensitivity reactions lead to?
Inflammation + fibrinoid necrosis
(histological pattern seen on microscopy)
What is the antigen targeted in SLE? Give 3 broad symptoms
Nuclear antigens: dsDNA + Histone (drug induced)
Nephritis
Arthritis
Skin lesions
What is the antigen targeted in Polyarteritis nodosa? What is the consequence?
Hep B surface antigen
Systemic vasculitis
What is Gel and Coomb’s Type 4 hypersensitivity reaction?
Delayed type.
T-cell mediated response: CD4 or CD8
What occurs in a CD4 mediated Type 4 hypersensitivity reaction?
- DC takes antigen to LN, activates naive T cells
- CD4 T cells recruit macrophages
- Macrophages creates reactive oxygen species, release lysozymes + lots of inflammatory cytokines
- Recruit many more immune cells
What occurs in a CD8 mediated Type 4 hypersensitivity reaction?
- DC takes antigen to LN, activates naive T cells
- CD8 T cells directly cause apoptosis via: perforin + granzyme
What 4 syndromes/ situations does a Type 4 hypersensitivity reaction occur?
Contact dermatitis
Tuberculin skin test
T1DM
Hashimoto’s
What is the target and consequential symptoms in contact dermatitis ?
Poison ivy, metals e.g. nickel
Inflammation
Rash
Blister
+/- fever
What is the target and consequential symptoms in tuberculin skin test ?
Tuberculin
Induration, erythema at injection site
What is the target and consequential symptoms in T1DM?
Pancreatic islet cells
Insulin deficiency
What is the target and consequential symptoms in Hashimoto’s?
Thyroglobulin on Thyroid epithelial cells
Hypothyroidism, goitre
What is the timeline of transplant rejection?
- Antigens on graft are recognized as foreign proteins
- Activation of antigen specific lymphocytes
- Damage
Name 2 important determinants of transplant rejection
HLA/ MHC
ABO blood group
What is HLA encoded on? Which cells express HLA?
Chr6
HLA class I (A,B,C): all cells
HLA class II (DR, DQ, DP): only present on APCs as need to be able to present to T cells, but some other cells upregulate it in times of stress e.g. infection
Which HLA is most important to match? (from most important to least)
DR > B > A
What is the chance of HLA matching with a sibling?
HLA inherited via parents so:
25% chance of perfect match
50% chance of half match
25% chance of no match
What is the chance of a perfect HLA match with a stranger?
1 in 100,000
What is a perfect match in terms of HLA?
Perfect match = 0 mismatched
Completely unmatched = 6 mismatches
(2 alleles for each of HLA-A, HLA-B + HLA-DR)
What occurs in T cell mediated transplant rejection?
- Recognition: Direct, Indirect or Semi-direct pathway
- T cell activation
- Organ damage: cytotoxic T cells + macrophages destroy foreign cells, graft begins to fail
What is the direct pathway of recognition in T cell mediated transplant rejection?
Some of donor APCs are present on organ/ in its vessels
Donor APCs present donor HLA to recipient T cells
What is the indirect pathway of recognition in T cell mediated transplant rejection? When does this occur?
Recipient APC presents peptides from donor to recipient T cells
Can occur when graft cells die + release proteins
What is the semi-direct pathway of recognition in T cell mediated transplant rejection? When does this occur?
Recipient APC presents donor HLA to recipient T cells
Occurs when cells swap HLA between themselves
What occurs in antibody mediated transplant rejection?
- Recognition of something foreign body
- B cell proliferation + maturation
- Organ damage: graft specific Abs bind to graft ENDOTHELIUM
What antibodies are produced in antibody mediated rejection?
Anti-HLA Abs (not naturally occurring)
Pre-formed: Prior Transplantation, pregnancy, transfusion.
Post-formed: Arise after transplantation.
Other antibodies:
Anti-A or anti-B Abs (naturally occurring)
Describe the damage that occurs in antibody mediated rejection
Graft specific Abs bind to graft endothelium
Causes INTRAVASCULAR disease, leading to graft failure
How is transplant rejection screened and monitored?
Antibodies: before, during + after
T cells: organ function e.g. creatinine +/- biopsy
What investigation is used to confirm transplant rejection?
Biopsy
Antibody mediated: disease in vasculature
T cells: in zone
What is a defining histological feature of antibody mediated rejection?
Glomerulitis
Capillaries stuffed with inflammatory cells + swollen endothelial cells that are damaged
What footprint signature of antibody mediated rejection is sometimes identifiable with a stain?
Complement activation on endothelial cell surface with stain for C4d
Which is the main cell that is injured in the effector phase of antibody mediated rejection?
Endothelial cell
What induction agents are used prior to transplantation?
OKT3, ATG: Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (anti-thymocyte globulin)
Daclizumab: Anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody
Alemtuzumab: Anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody
What is used for baseline suppression in transplants to prevent rejection?
Calcineurin inhibitors: Cyclosporine, tacrolimus
+
Mycophenolate mofetil: MPA inhibitor
OR
Azathioprine: inhibits purine synth
+/- Steroids
What specific treatment can be used for T cell mediated transplant rejection?
Methylprednisolone
3 pulses 60mg/kg IV + oral taper
ATG/OKT3
What specific treatment can be used for B cell mediated transplant rejection?
Plasma exchange
IV Ig
Anti-B cell agents: Rituximab (anti-CD20), anti-CD5
What is autologous stem cell transplant?
Patients own SCs frozen
High dose- cytoreductive Tx for cancer
Thaw + reinfuse
Give 3 indications for autologous stem cell transplant
Multiple myeloma
Lymphoma (relapse)
Solid tumours
Give 4 advantages of autologous stem cell transplant
No GvHD risk
No immunosuppressant needed: thus lower infection risk
Readily available
More tolerable (elderly)
What are the disadvantages of autologous SCT?
Graft contaminated with malignant cells
No “graft vs leukaemia” effect
= Higher relapse rate
What is allogenic stem cell transplant?
HLA-matched donor Sis harvested
Patient BM destroyed
Introduce new Sis which colonise the marrow
What are the advantages of allogenic stem cell transplant?
Graft vs leukaemia effect
Graft free from malignant cells
= lower relapse/ recurrence
Give 3 disadvantages of allogenic stem cell transplant
GvHD risk
Opportunistic infections
Regimen toxicity: infection, 2nd malignancy