Hypersensitivities Flashcards
What is a hypersensitivity ?
an exaggerated and inappropriate reaction to an otherwise ‘harmless’ antigen
What does hypersensitivity lead to?
damaging rather than protective pathology
hypersensitivity can be the product of what mechanism(s)?
Humoral and cellular
What is the general definition for type I hypersensitivity?
Mediated by IgE, immediate type hypersensitivity
What response is responsible for IgE production upon first exposure to the antigen (Type I)?
Th2 response
What does the antigen become following the first exposure?
An allergen
Where does the IgE bind following first exposure?
to the high affinity FcεRI on mast cells, basophils and eosinophils, “sensitizing” the cells
What is the second exposure also called?
The challenge
What stimulates degranulation during the second exposure?
allergen crosslinking the IgE bound to the FcεRI
What is thought to be the functional use of a type I response?
rejection of parasites
What is atopy?
hereditary tendency to make IgE in response to common environmental antigens
What are the two possible expressions of atopy?
systemic (systemic anaphylaxis) or tissue localized
How many chains are in the FcεRI receptor?
4
What family of receptors is the FcεRI part of?
the immunoglobulin superfamily
what is the role of the alpha chain in the FcεRI ?
interacting with IgE
what is the role of the ß chain in the FcεRI receptor ?
links the alpha chain to the disulphide linked gamma chain homodimer
which chains of the FcεRI have ITAMs? what is the purpose?
each ß and gamma chain
- in the cytoplasm and it interacts with protein tyrosine kinases to transduce an activating signal
What is the second, lower affinity IgE receptor called?
FcεRII/CD23
What is the structure of FcεRII?
single polypeptide chain
what else can FcεRII bind?
binds CD21 on B cells
How does FcεRII contribute to a range of IgE control effects?
By being able to be solubilized
What are mast cells? what are they derived from?
Large granulated mononuclear cells
Derived from bone marrow
What are the two kinds of mast cells and where are they found?
- Tissue mast cells in connective tissue near nerves and blood vessels
- Mucosal mast cells in the mucosa lining the gut and lungs
what do mast cells secrete?
synthesize and secrete allergic mediators and a large number of cytokines
what % of circulating WBCs are basophils?
0.5-1%
what is the role of basophils?
recruited from the blood into inflamed tissue and synthesize and secrete allergic mediators
both the mast cells and the basophils express?
FcεRI
what are the three stages of the Type I response?
- Sensitization
- Activation
- Effector (early and late stages)
Sensitization phase: following antigenic presentation, ___ cells make __, ___, and ___. B cells switch to ___
Th2 cells make IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13
B cells switch to IgE
Sensitization phase: the IgE produced binds to….
FcεRI receptor on basophils and mast cells
When is the IgE more stable?
When bound to a receptor
Sensitization can also occur via …?
passive transfer of IgE
- ex: PCA reaction - passive cutaneous anaphylaxis
What is the first step in the activation phase?
Cross linking of at least two FcεRI
(and bound IgE) by multivalent allergen, anti-IgE antibody, anti-Fc receptor antibody or aggregated IgE
What is triggered following crosslinking of the FcεRI receptors?
mast cell and basophil degranulation
What are 5 non IgE activators of mast cells?
- C3a and C5a (anaphylatoxins),
- some drugs (codeine and morphine),
- cold,
- exercise,
- certain neuropeptides
What type of mediators are involved in the early effector phase?
Primary (preformed) mediators and secondary (synthesized) mediators
What are 4 preformed mediators?
histamine, eosinophil chemotactic factor, neutrophil chemotactic factor, proteases
Where are preformed mediators stored?
Cytoplasmic granules
What receptors does histamine bind to ?
H1, H2, H3 and H4 receptors
What is caused by histamine binding to H1 receptor? (3 symptoms)
1. intestinal and bronchial smooth muscle contraction 2. increased vascular permeability 3. increased mucus secretion by goblet cells
What is the result of histamine binding to H2 receptors?
- vasodilation
- increases vascular permeability
- stimulates exocrine glands
- causes acid release in the stomach