Hypersensitivity Flashcards
What 2 responses can cause a hypersensitivity reaction?
Abnormal response to foreign antigens
Autoimmune response to self antigens
Classify the 4 types of hypersensitivity in terms of timing.
Type I- Immediate
Type II
Type III
Type IV- delayed
What mediates type I hypersensitivity?
IgE as a result from mast cells mediators
What mediates type II hypersensitivity?
What does this cause?
Antibodies that bind to TISSUE antigens
Causes complement dependent tissue injury
What mediates type III hypersensitivity?
What does this cause?
Circulating Ag-Ab complexes which deposit in vessels
Cause complement dependent injury in the vessel wall (vasculitis)
What mediates type IV hypersensitivity?
Cytokines produced from Th1 and Th17 cells, macrophages, or killing of host cells by CD8+ CTLs
What triggers a type I reaction? What does this activate?
What is the timing of this reaction?
Environmental antigens, which activate mast cells in an IgE dependent manner
This reaction is immediate
What is atopy?
When individuals tend to develop allergic diseases due to their genotype.
These individuals are called atopic and develop many Type I hypersensitivities
During Type I hypersensitivity, what is the function of each of the following:
Histamine Protease Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Cytokines
Histamine- causes dilation of small vessels and increases vascular permeability
Protease- causes local tissue damage
Prostaglandins- vascular dilation
Leukotrienes- stimulates prolonged smooth muscle contaction
Cytokines- induce local inflammation
What are the 3 steps that make up type I hypersensitivity starting from when the antigen is first encountered?
- Primary exposure to allergen causes activation of Th2 cells and the production of IgE
- Binding of IgE to Fc epsilon receptors on mast cells where they lie in wait for a specific antigen
- Upon secondary exposure, antigen-dependent cross linking of the membrane bound IgE causes activation of mast cells that result in the release of inflammatory mediators
What are the 2 phases of type I hypersensitivity? Describe each.
Immediate Phase- Vascular and smooth muscle reactions develop within minutes after exposure to the antigen.
-Vasodilation, Congestion, Edema
Late Phase- 2 to 24 hours later. Eosinophils, neutrophils, and T cells are found in the inflammatory infiltrate.
What 2 non-immunologic stimuli cause asthma to occur in the form of bronchospasms?
Cold
Exercise
What causes the systemic reaction, Anaphylaxis?
What are the 3 physiological affects of Anaphylaxis?
Food Allergens cause this
Contraction of smooth muscles in bronchi and bronchioles
Vasodilation of capillary endothelium
BP drops causing vascular shock
What kind of hypersensitivity does Allergen testing utilize?
Type I hypersensitivity
Where on the body are allergen testing performed?
Ventral side of the arm or on the back