Hypersensitivity Flashcards
Which of the hypersensitivity reactions is cell mediated?
Type IV
What antibody mediates type I reactions?
IgE
What antibodies mediate types II and III reactions?
IgG and IgM
What are type I reactions also referred to as?
Allergic reaction, immediate hypersensitivity, or anaphylactic hypersensitivity
In type I reactions, allergens (ie, antigens) are presented to Th2 cell. The activated Th2 cells then release IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13. Describe the function of each of these cytokines in type I reactions:
IL-4: key factor that causes B cells to switch from IgM to IgE production, induces Th2 cell differentiation
IL-5: Activates eiosinophils
IL-13: promotes IgE production by B cells, induces Th2-cell differentiation of T cells, causes mucussecretion in epithelial cells, and enhances smooth muscle contraction
What are the steps of a type I reaction? Include processes that occur at the time of initial antigen exposure and the subsequent exposure.
IgE Ab is induced by an allergen–>IgE binds to Fc receptors on the surface of mast cells/basophils. When the individual is reexposed to the allergen the second time–>the allergen causes cross linking of bound IgE molecules–>the cross linking activates IgE mediated degranulation in mast cells/basophils with release of various mediators the most important of which is histamine, the mediator responsible for the anaphylactiv symptoms.
Type I reactions involve both primary and secondary mediators. Explain the difference between the two.
Primary mediators: preformed molecules stored in granules that are directly released
Secondary mediatiors: generated de novo as a consequence of mast cell/basophil activation
Histamine and proteases/hydrolases are primary mediators. What are their functions?
Histamine: vasodilation, increases vascular permeability and plasma leak (edema formation), smooth muscle contraction increases secretions (nasal, respiratory)
Protease/hydrolases: tissue damage, activate complement, cleavage of membrane receptors
Leukotrienes B4, C4, D4, and E4 and cytokines are secondary mediators. What are their functions?
Leukotrienes: B4–>recruits white blood cell (WBC). C4/D4/E4–>vasodilation, increases vascular permeability
Cytokines: mediate the inflammatory response of the late phase
What are the two phases of type I hypersensitivity reactions?
- Immediate phase: rapid degranulation of preformed mediators in mast cells/basophils within minutes of reexposure to antigen that cross-links the cell-bound IgE
- Late phase: 2-48 hours after antigen exposure; secondary mediators cause an influx, maturation, and activaton of inflammatory cells and increase teir survival in tissue
What are the symptoms of the immediate phase of type I reactions?
Edema, erythema, wheal and flare reaction in the skin, itching (skin, eye, nose), runny nose, wheezing
What are the common clinical manifestations of type I hypersensitivity reactions?
Skin: urticaria (hives), eczema
Airways: rhinitis, asthma
Eyes: conjunctivitis
What are the consequences of IgE mediated responses in the GI tract, airways and blood vessels?
GI tract: increased fluid secretion, increased peristalsis–>expulsion of GI tract contents (diarrhea, vomiting)
Airways: decreased diameter, increased mucus secretion–>expulsion of contents (phlegm, coughing)
BLOOD VESSELS: increased blood flow, increased permeability–>edema, inflammation, and increased lymph flow takes Ag to lymph nodes
What is the most severe form of type I hypersensitivity reactions?
Systemic anaphylaxis, which manifests as life-threatening bronchoconstriction and system vasodilation (eg, hypotensive shock)
What are some common causes of anaphylaxis?
Peanut, bee venom, drug, and latex allergy
What drugs are commonly given to prevent anaphylactic reactions?
Antihistamines, corticosteroids, and cromolyn sodium. Epinephrine can be given as treatment for anaphylactic reactions
How does cromolyn sodium work on mast cells?
It stabilizes mast cell membranes preventing degranulation
What do patients with atopic disorders (asthma, eczema and urticaria) have elevated levels of?
IgE, Th2 cytokines
Drugs commonly cause hypersensitivity reactions by acting as haptens. What is a hapten and how does this induce hypersensitivity reactions?
A hapten is a molecule, which by itself, cannot induce an immune response. The hapten, usually a drug or its metabolite binds to an endogenous protein that then induces antibody formation. The antibody reacts to the hapten (drug or its metabolite) upon subsequent exposure
What are type II hypersensitivity reactions also known as?
Cytotoxic hypersensitivity
What reaction occurs in type II hypersensitivity?
Antibodies against endogenous cell membrane antigens fix complement causing complement mediated lysis via membrane attack complex
For each disease associated with type II hypersensitivity, name the target: Warm/cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia: Erythroblastosis fetalis: Pernicious anemia Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) vasculitis C-ANCA P-ANCA Goodpasture syndrome
Warm/cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia: Self RBC membrane proteins (warm=IgG; cold=IgM)
Erythroblastosis fetalis: Fetal D-Rh antigen
Pernicious anemia: Intrinsic factor (binds B12)
(ANCA) vasculitis: Neutrophil granule protein
C-ANCA: PR3
P-ANCA: Myeloperoxidase
Goodpasture syndrome: Alveolar and glomerular basement membrane
Rheumatic fever: Graves Disease: Myasthenia Gravis: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: Pemphigus vulgaris: Bullous pepmigoid:
Rheumatic fever: Myocardial ags that cross react with streptococcal ags (possibly the streptococcus M protein)
Graves Disease: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor
Myasthenia Gravis: Acetylcholine receptor
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: Presynaptic Ca2+ channels
Pemphigus vulgaris: Epidermal desmosomes
Bullous pepmigoid: Epidermal-dermal hemi-desmosomes
What drugs are associated with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia? Of these, which drugs are associated with haptens? Which drugs generate autoantibodies?
Penicillin and quindine are hapten forming. alpha methyl dopa generates auto antibodies
What test is positive in warm autoantibody disease?
Direct antiglobulin (Coombs test)
Cold autoimmune hemolytic disease has an acute and chronic form. What infections are associated with the acute form? What type of neoplasm is associated with the chronic form?
Acute form is associated with mycoplasma pneumoniae and infectious mononucleosis (eg, Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]). Chronic form is associated with lymphoid neoplasms
How is the autoantibody in Grave disease different from other autoantibodies?
The autoantibody in Grave disease, a thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) actually binds and activates the TSH receptor
What type II disease is mediated by an autoantibody that shares the same target as exfoliatin (Staphylococcus toxin in scaled skin syndrome)?
Pemphigus vulgaris
What region of autoantibodies attaches to the ag in type II reactions? What region binds the complement?
IgG or IgM attaches to the ag at their Fab region and attaches complement at their Fc region
Which of the hypersensitivity reactions are antibody mediated?
Types I, II and III
What are type III hypersensitivity reactions also known as?
Immune complex hypersensitivity
In type III reactions formation of large antigen-antibody immune complexes deposit into tissues and fix complement. How does activation of complement result in tissue damage? How does this differ from type II hypersensitivity?
Complement activation recruits neutrophils, which release proteolytic enzymes and cause tissue damage. This differs from type II in which tissue damage is caused by autoantibody-mediated complement activation (not by formation of large immune complexes).
One important factor that determines if antigen-antibody complexes deposit into tissue is the relative amount of antigen versus antibody. Why do antigen-predominant complexes typically form pathogenic deposits?
Antigen-ab complexes are cleared when mononuclear phagocytes bind to ab, resulting in endocytosis of the complex. In ag-predominant complexes, fewer abs means less clearance and a propensity to form pathogenic deposits.