Hypersensitivity Flashcards
what is hypersensitivity?
over-reactions to foreign agents: benign or harmful
what is Type I hypersensitivity and what does it cause?
- immediate hypersensitive mediated by IgE, mast cells and eosinophils
- atopy: allergic reaction due to inhaling allergens
- anaphylaxis: system reaction
what is the mechanism of Type I hypersensitivity?
triggered when allergens (pollen, dust, foods etc) bind to IgE on the surface of mast cells and eosinophils that leads to the release of histamines and inflammatory mediators
what are examples of Type I hypersenstivity?
- respiratory tract allergies: hay fever, asthma
- skin reactions: urticaria (hives from insect bites)
- gastrointestinal tract allergies: vomiting, diarrhea
- anaphylaxis
what are the 4 phases of Type I hypersensitivity?
- sensitization phase
- activation phase
- immediate effector phase (mast cells)
- late effector phase (eosinophils)
what happens during the Sensitization Phase of Type I hypersensitivity?
- the allergen is captured by APCs and presented to naive T helper cells
- naive T helper cell differentiate into Th2 cells and becomes active
- Th2 cells release IL-4 which activates B cells
- B cells begin producing large amounts of IgE
- generation of memory responses
what happens during the Activation Phase of Type I hypersensitivity?
- IgE antibodies bind to high affinity (FcεRI) receptors on mast cells and basophils
- re-exposure to the allergen
- cross-linking of IgE: at least two IgE molecules must bind to the allergens simultaneously to become active
- basophils and mast cells are now triggered to begin the process of degranulation
what happens during the Immediate Effector Phase of Type I hypersensitivity?
Mast cells and basophils are activating by
- Calcium influx occurs after signaling pathways are activated inside the mast cell
- A drop in cAMP enhances mast cell degranulation and Increased cGMP supports mast cell activation
- Mast cell activation leads to the activation of enzymes called phospholipases which metabolize arachidonic acid into prostaglandins and leukotrienes
- tyrosine kinases are activated which leads to cytokine production and chemotactic factors that attract neutrophils
- degranulation of the mast calls releases histamine which increases the infiltration of eosinophils
what are the main mediators released, what are their functions and what clinical syndromes can they produce?
- Prostaglandins: vasodilation
- Cytokines: inflammation
- Leukotrienes: smooth muscle cells contraction
- Proteases: tissue damage
- vasoactive amines: vascular dilation, smooth muscle contraction
- modulate adaptive immunity
- allergic rhinitis (hay fever), food allergies, bronchial asthma, anaphylaxis
what are the clinical and pathological manifestations of Allergic Rhinitis, Sinusitis (hay fever)?
- increased mucus secretions
- inflammation of upper airways and sinuses
what are the clinical and pathological manifestations of food allergies?
increased peristalsis due to contraction of intestinal muscles
what are the clinical and pathological manifestations of Bronchial Asthma?
- airway obstruction caused by bronchial smooth muscle hyperactivity
- inflammation and tissue injury caused by late phase reaction
what are the clinical and pathological manifestations of Anaphylaxis?
- fall in blood pressure (shock) caused by vascular dilation
- airway obstruction due to laryngeal edema
what happens during the Late Effector Phase of Type I hypersensitivity?
- production of cytokines continues
- mast cells continue to produce eosinophil chemotactic factors
- recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils prolongs the late phase
how is an eosinophil activated and what does it release?
- IgE binds to the FcεRII receptors on mast cells allowing them to release eosinophil chemoattractants
- cytokines, chemokines and ribonucleases with antiviral activity
what do eosinophils contain that gives them their anti- parasitic activity?
- major basic protein (MBP): destroys parasites and activates mast cells
- eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP): form ROS- neurotoxins that destroy worms
- leukotrienes (from mast cells): causes smooth muscle contraction to expel parasites