Hunter-Type I Hypersensitivity Flashcards
Give some examples of secondary immunodeficiency.
HIV
malnutrition
immunosuppressant drugs
What are 2 names for when the immune system goes from being the hero to being the bad guy? What are some examples of this?
immunopathology & hypersensitivity diseases
Ex: allergy, rejection of a grafted organ, autoimmunity
T/F There is immunopathology even when a healthy immune system is attacking a bad pathogen.
True. B/c when you attack a bad pathogen you get some collateral damage. This is acceptable immunopathology. With bad immunopathology–>the attack & collateral damage becomes the primary damage.
What percentage of Americans have an allergy? What is an allergy?
50% of Americans have an allergy.
Allergy: unwanted response of your immune system to innocuous materials. Ex: pollen is not dangerous.
What is more concerning & why–have an allergy to cats or an autoimmune disorder?
Autoimmune is more concerning!! You can get rid of your cat, but not your liver!
T/F The immune system can recognize every form of cancer.
False. It can only recognize some forms of cancer.
T/F If you have an autoimmune disease…with proper treatment you can return to self tolerance.
FALSE. You can never return. perhaps one day you will be able to with gene therapy.
There are ___ types of hypersensitivity reactions according to the ________ classification.
4 types
Coombs-Gell
What is Type I Hypersensitivity? Which immune reagent activates it?
Allergies!
IgE mediated
What type of antigen do you usu see in Type 1 reactions?
soluble antigens
What is the effector mechanism in Type 1 reactions?
mast cell activation
also eosinophil activation
What are some examples of Type 1 reactions?
allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, atopic eczema, systemic anaphylaxis, some drug allergies
T/F Some types of Type 1 reactions are autoimmune by nature.
FALSE. They are all created by extrinsic things. No autoimmune.
Which immune reactant is involved in Type II hypersensitivities? What types of reactions are these?
IgG mediated
autoimmune…responds to things on our own cell surface receptors & ECM etc. Antibodies made against self tissue.
What is the immune reactant involved in Type III hypersensitivities? What types of reactions are these?
IgG mediated
immune complexes formed (antibody-antigen)
What is the immune reactant involved in Type IV hypersensitivities? What types of reactions are these?
involves T cells (Th1, Th2, CTL)
do their thing & cause some tissue damage in the process, some autoimmune & some extrinsic
What is another name for an allergy?
immediate hypersensitivity
Note: allergies have both immediate & delayed effects
What is an example of a delayed hypersensitivity?
TB…when you get the PPD test–you have to check hours later for the reaction.
What is the nature of the antigens in Type I reactions?
they are small & soluble antigens
What is found in the granules of mast cells that are activated in a Type I Hypersensitivity reaction?
they contain lots of mediators for attack
What was the Type I mechanism originally made to do?
attack metazoan parasites. Like worms. Now, they react to innocuous things.
Esp: IgE mediated killing of worms by eosinophils
**worms release things that prompt the reaction
What were the mast cells of the Type I response originally intended to do?
expel parasites
think of the effects of histamine: rapid contraction of the gut, explosive diarrhea, projectile vomiting–moves worms out of the gut.
**this comes with cross-linking anti-parasite IgEs on mast cells
What is a schistosome?
these are worms found in your blood
What are some inhaled materials that could potentially be the extrinsic allergens of Type I hypersensitivity?
plant pollen
dander of domesticated animals
mold spores
feces of very small animals–such as house dust mites
What are some injected materials that could potentially be the extrinsic allergens of Type I hypersensitivity?
insect venoms
vaccines
drugs
therapeutic proteins
What are some ingested materials that could potentially be the extrinsic allergens of Type I hypersensitivity?
food
orally administered drugs
An allergen gets to the surface of mucosa. It crosses the mucosa. It comes in contact with a _____ cell. What happens next?
dendritic cell
- *confused with a metazoan parasite so a cytokine soup is released.
- *this makes the immature effector T cell differentiate into Th2 cell. This helper cell activates a B cell that has a receptor for the allergen.
What are the substances that make up the cytokine soup that forces the Th2 pathway?
IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13
If you don’t go down the Th2 pathway…what is the other option? Describe this.
Th1 pathway.
This is NOT an allergic response.
This pathway is favored in the presence of IFN gamma, IL-12
T/F Allergens can be proteins, carbs, nucleotides.
False. THey are proteins. Then after being chewed up by an APC, a peptide is presented on the MHCII molecule.
T/F Any person who is exposed to an allergen will become allergic to it. Why or why not?
False. B/c you have to have the genetic code for the MHCII molecule that recognizes that allergen. You will of course have a T cell that will recognize it no matter what. This applies to autoimmune disease as well–MHCII is the culprit.
T/F Less than 1 microgram/year of ragweed pollen is enough to produce an extended allergic response.
True! Crazy.
B cells present allergen peptides on MHC Class II to CD4 TH2 cells that produce cytokines like IL-4 and express CD40L. Then IL-4/IL-4R & CD40L/CD40 costimulatory signaling activates what & promotes what?
activates the B cell
promotes isotype switching to IgE
**Note: Get allergen, get Th2…get cytokine release w/ T & B cell interaction–>helps with isotope switching.
What is the order of the antibody classes produced? First 3…
First: IgM
Second: IgG
Third: IgE
What would happen if the isotope switching didn’t get all the way to IgE, but stopped at IgG?
it would actually be protective. This is immunotherapy.
What quality does IgE have that the other Igs don’t have?
it is cytophilic.
What are the typical levels of IgE in blood plasma? How does this compare to IgM & IgG levels?
IgE levels: 0.1-0.4 micrograms/dL
IgG & IgM levels are much higher.
What is an example of a time when IgE levels would be super elevated in blood plasma?
**when there is a severe allergic response
One of the more minor reasons that IgE levels are lower in the plasma (in a misleading way) is that they are bound to which cells? Via which receptor?
Bound to mast cells, basophils, eosinophils
via FcepisilonRI
Note: eosinophils only express this receptor when activated, the other 2 cells always express it.
What happens with a person’s first exposure to an antigen?
You are exposed & have no allergic response at first. The pollen interacts with an APC. T cells deviate in the Th2 direction. T cells come in contact with B cells of the lymph node. IL-4 drives B cells to produce IgE. This IgE binds to mast cells.
What happens with a person’s second exposure to an antigen?
there is an acute release of the mast cell contents. Allergic rhinitis-hay fever.
T/F The whole concept of first exposure & second exposure is an example of delayed hypersensitivity.
FALSE. Nope.
Where are mast cells found? Which of these mast cells have access to IgE that is produced?
Mast cells are found basically everywhere (skin, mucosa, b.v lining)! They all have access. This is why you can have an allergic response to an allergen in your nose & a skin test (allergen on skin).
Review: how does the IgE attach to the mast cell?
FCeRI receptor
Describe how the second exposure leads to mast cell degranulation.
Allergen cross links IgE on mast cells. Once it reaches a threshold of stimulation, the mast cell will be signaled intracellularly to release its contents via exocytosis. This involves gene transcription of actin filaments etc.
What types of things are contained in the mast cell granules?
Vasoactive amines: histamine Proteases: chymase, tryptase Prostaglandins: PGD2 Leukotrienes: LTC4 Cytokines: TNF-a
There are 3 pathways that are activated via intracellular signaling in the mast cell. What is their timeframe?
- happens in minutes; granules
- happens in minutes to hours
- happens in hours
Describe the 1st pathway in more detail.
Pathway #1: Granules contains lots of things, including vasoactive amines & proteases. Causes vascular dilation, smooth muscle contraction, & tissue damage.