First Pass Miss Exam 2 Flashcards
What cells in the tissue release inflammatory cytokines initiating the innate immune response?
Mast cells and dendritic cells (note that DCs make IL-1 / TNF)
What cytokines does the Th17 subset of CD4+ T helper cells secrete and what does this do? What causes formation of this subset?
Secretes IL-17 -> recruits inflammatory response via neutrophils and monocytes
Induced by TGF-beta in combination with IL-6
What are the two types of Treg cells and what cytokines do they release?
All secrete IL-10 / TGF-beta, which suppress the immune response
Natural T-regs = CD4+,CD25+, FoxP3+ T cells which were developed in thymus, suppress autoreactive T cells
Adaptive regulatory T cells = Originally CD4+ cells which are induced to express CD25 marker in the periphery, typically involved in mucosal immunity (i.e. MALT)
What cytokines does the Th1 subset of CD4+ Tcells secrete and what does this do? What causes formation of this subset?
Secretes IFN-y -> activates macrophages, induces class switching to IgG, suppresses Th2 response
Induced by macrophages secreting IL-12, IFN-y
Where are follicular dendritic cells present and what is their function?
Exist in germinal centers of lymphoid follicles, function to hold onto antigens for long periods of time and present these to B lymphocytes, promoting their activation. They sit there and accept antigens from them and hold onto them while they mutate and adapt.
-> let the B cells undergo somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation
What cells have MHC Class 2 and what can increase their expression?
Located on B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, but only constitutively expressed in dendritic cells. Upregulated via IFN-y.
How do NK cells activate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity?
Their Fc receptors bind an immunoglobulin which has bound a cell (part of adaptive immune response), and they release perforin / granzymes into the target cell. Can also use FasL death receptor.
What is Type 1 Hypersensitivity and what antigen-presenting cells are involved in the sensitization phase? How does this occur?
Immediate Hypersensitivity Reaction
2 APCs involved
- Dendritic cells - present allergen via MHC Class II, while secreting IL-4 -> turn naive T-cells into allergen-specific Th2 cells, with clonal expansion
- B cells - bind allergen via their BCR’s, internalize, and present via MHC Class II. This further activates Th2 cells
it’s all about making sensitized Th2 cells which induce IgE via IL-4
What two processes mediate the late phase reaction of Type 1 hypersensitivity?
- Activation of phospholipase A2.
From arachidonic acid: make leukotrienes B4,C4, and D4 and PGD2 from cell membrane
From phospholipids: makes platelet-activating factor. - Secretion of cytokines/chemokines: i.e. IL-4, IL-5, TNF, and IL-1 -> proinflammatory and pro-TH2.
What are the clinical features that can result from increased vasodilation, increased edema, bronchoconstriction, and increased glandular / mucinous secretions? (Type 1 hypersensitivity)
Vasodilation -> localized erythema which may cause shock
Edema -> hives on skin, or nasal / laryngeal edema
Bronchoconstriction -> wheezing / airway constriction following bronchospasm
Glandular / mucinous secretions (from mucinous metaplasia of PSCC) -> rhinorrhea and even mucous plugs
What is the main difference between Type II and Type III hypersensitivity?
Type III hypersensitivity is forming immune complexes to a SOLUBLE antigen, which may be circulating or planted
Type 3: Complement will ALWAYS be involved in tissue damage.
Type 2: Can involve antibody-only processes (cellular dysfunction i.e. Graves disease or myasthenia gravis, or ADCC like killing tumor cells)
What causes secondary damage following complement in Type III hypersensitivity?
Degranulation and ROS via PMNs and macrophages, with resultant endothelial damage and activation of primary / secondary hemostasis and coagulation cascade.
(All primary damage is complement-mediated)
What are the two types of Type IV hypersensitivity? Give two examples of each.
- Delayed-type hypersensitivity
- > contact dermatitis due to poison ivy (atopic dermatitis is Type 1)
- > tuberculosis skin testing
- due to proliferation of CD4+ Th1 type cells - Cytotoxic T-cell mediated hypersensitivity.
- > Graft-versus-host disease
- > Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- due to proliferation of CD8+ Tcells
How does the sensitization phase of (delayed-type) Type IV hypersensitivity differ from Type I hypersensitivity?
Type I hypersensitivity - IL-4 stimulates CD4 differentiation into Th2 cells, which facilitate B cells to make IgE
Type IV hypersensitivity - IL-12 stimulates CD4 differentiation into Th1 cells, which facilitate secretion of IFN-y
What occurs in the effector phase of delayed-type Type IV hypersensitivity?
- Activation and proliferation memory Th1 cells
- > secrete IFN-y, IL-2, TNF, and chemokines to recruit monocytes - Monocytes are activated to M1 macrophages via IFN-y, and stimulate further Th1 proliferation via their IL-12. More TNF, IL-1, and chemokines are made.
What are the initial and late histopathological findings of Type 4 hypersensitivity effector phase?
- Initial -> diffuse infiltrate of Th1 cells
- Later -> collections of activated macrophages, surrounded by Th1 lymphocytes. This is the granulomatous inflammation we know and love.
What is the direct pathway of graft recognition?
Usage of donor’s APCs to stimulate host CD4 or CD8 T cells via the proper MHCs to result in activation
- CD8 cells are activated by cytoplasmic peptides of the graft APCs being presented on MHC Class I, which are recognized as foreign by the receipient’s T cells.
- CD4 T cells are activated by APCs presenting any extracellular peptides on MHC Class II, thus allowing recognition of donor MHC.
What is the effect of the direct pathway in terms of graft rejection?
Results in acute rejection (cell-mediated)
CD8 T cells directly kill graft cells
CD4 T cells activate macrophages via IL-2 and IFN-y and amplify the inflammatory response, leading to graft damage
What is the indirect pathway of graft recognition important for, and which type of T cell participates? Why?
Important for development of chronic rejection
CD4+ T cell participates, but not CD8 T cell since the indirect pathway relies on host APCs presenting to T cells. Host APCs will not be able to present graft material as intracellular / cytoplasmic foreign material, only extracellular (CD4 pathway only).
What type of hypersensitivity is hyperacute graft rejection, and what does it look like?
It is a type 2 hypersensitivity (tissue antigen, insoluble), looks like type 3 because of high levels of complement deposition in tissues, but it’s the donor’s tissues.
- > edema
- > acute inflammatory infiltrate
- > endothelial cell damage, fibrinoid necrosis, hemorrhage, and thrombosis
- > tissue infarct
What are the two primary mechanisms of acute rejection, and which is more easily treatable?
- Cell-mediated - due to T-cell overactivity (from direct pathway)
- > easily treated by increasing immunosuppression (most immunosuppressives effective against T-cell proliferation) - Humoral - due to antibodies formed after transplantation. More difficult to treat.
How does acute, cell-mediated rejection (Type 4) appear histologically?
Interstitial inflammatory infiltrate with T cells and macrophages, injuring tubules (tubulitis) and vascular endothelium (endothelitis and edema)
How does acute, humoral rejection appear histologically? There are really two presentations here, and one is more common.
Since it is due to antibodies, it usually appears exactly like hyperacute rejection (just later).
- Most common - A type 2 hypersensitivity which looks like type 3 w/ associated vasculitis and fibrinoid necrosis.
- Alternatively, can present with vascular intimal thickening via foamy macrophages which are recruited by antibodies which cannot fix complement (low avidity). Fibroblasts and SMCs will proliferate due to cytokine production and lead to tissue atrophy. Not associated with vasculitis, more vessel stenosis by thick intima.
What immunologic mechanism is behind chronic rejection?
Indirect pathway of CD4+ T cell activation
-> activated macrophages and APCs present alloantigens from broken down graft / areas of ischemia, which leads to further T cell activation and subsequent inflammation & breakdown of graft for more antigen presentation.