Hypersensitivity Flashcards
What is allergy and hypersensitivity?
A reaction produced by the normal immune system (directed against innocuous antigens) in a pre-sensitised (immune) host
How many types of hypersensitivity are there?
4
What do type I hypersensitivity reactions involve?
IgE antibody mediated mast cell and basophil degranulation
What causes this production of IgE antibodies in type I reactions?
Initial exposure to the antigen causes the priming of Th2 cells, and their release of IL-4 causes the B cells to switch their production of IgM to IgE antibodies which are antigen-specific.
What is the result of the release of IgE antibodies in type I reactions?
The IgE antibodies bind to mast cells and basophils, sensitising them to the antigen. When the antigen enters the body again, it cross links the IgE bound to the sensitised cells, causing the release of preformed mediators including histamine, leukotrienes and prostaglandins.
What are the clinical features of type I reactions?
Widespread vasodilation, bronchoconstriction, and increased permeability of vascular endothelium. Wheal and flare reaction
Describe the onset of type I reactions?
Fast (15-30 mins)
What is a wheal and flare reaction?
Wheal: swelling produced by the release of serum into the tissues Flare: redness of the skin, resulting from the dilation of blood vessels
What 2 stages can a type I reaction be divided into?
- Immediate 2. Late phase response
Describe the immediate stage of a type I reaction
Release of pre-formed mediators causes the immune response: - Histamine - Proteases - Chemotatic factors
Describe the late phase response of a type I reaction
8-12 hours later, where cytokines released in the immediate stage activate basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils even though the antigen is no longer present.
What is released in the late phase stage of a type I reaction?
- Prostaglandin - Leukotrienes
What is the effect of histamine on gastric acid?
Stimulates gastric acid secretion (can have vomiting during anaphylaxis)
What is the effect of histamine on blood vessels?
Causes dilation of blood vessels –> can cause low blood pressure and feeling dizzy
What is the effect of histamine on the lungs?
Bronchoconstriction –> wheezing and shortness of breath
What is the effect of histamine on the permeability of capillaries?
Increase in permeability –> can lead to swelling
What is the effect of histamine on adrenaline?
Adrenaline is released –> become tachycardic
What is the effect of histamine on the skin?
Swelling and inflammation –> urticaria rash
What is the severe version of a type I reaction?
Anaphylaxis
What is anaphylaxis?
An acute, potentially life-threatening IgE mediated systemic hypersensitivity reaction. Medical emergency.
What are the symptoms of mild type I reactions?
- Itchy eyes or nose - Cutaneous pruritus (itching of skin) - Flushing - Urticaria - Oral tingling/pruritus - Abdominal pain/nausea/vomiting - Runny nose, sneezing
What re the symptoms of moderate-severe type I reaction (anaphylaxis)?
- Diffuse urticaria and angioedema - Severe abdominal pain, vomiting diarrhoea - Hoarseness, cough - Shortness of breath - Wheezing and cyanosis - Respiratory arrest - Hypotension - Dizziness, loss of consciousness
What components of the immune system are involved in allergies?
Components that respond to parasitic infection are involved in allergic reactions.
Why do we get allergies?
The system has developed to produce a rapid tissue-based response to re-infection. The lack of infectious drive is a contributory factor in allergic disease. Combination of genetic and environmental.
How are we sensitised?
- Allergen seen and sampled by dendritic cell
- Dendritic cell (APC) presents allergen to naive T cell
- T cell recognises allergen and differentiates into a Th2 cell
- Th2 cell secretes cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) which signal to naive B cells
- Naive B cells become memory cells (switch to producing IgE antibodies)
- Produce specific IgE that will recognise that allergen on further exposure
What is the ‘dual allergen exposure hypothesis’?
- Early cutaneous exposure to food protein through a disrupted skin barrier leads to allergic sensitisation (e.g. eczema is thought to factor for allergies due to disruption to skin barrier).
- Whereas, early oral exposure to food allergen induces tolerance.
What is ‘sensitisation’?
Induction of allergic responses
What is the atopic march?
Refers to the typical progression of allergic diseases that often begin early in life:
- Atopic dermatits (eczema)
- Food allergy
- Allergic rhinitis (hayfever)
- Asthma
What does the atopic march show?
- More common to develop eczema and food allergy in infancy
- Later in life (3-4 years) more common to develop asthma
- From 5-10, more common to develop asthma and hayfever
How is type I hypersensitivity diagnosed?
- History
- Blood test –> specific IgE test
- Skin prick test
- A positive control (i.e. histamine) and a negative control (i.e. normal saline) are put on the skin
- The allergen is then put on the skin
- Scratch each one and time for 15 mins –> see if a wheal appears and compare it to negative control
- Intra-dermal test
- Done for drug allergy testing
- Oral challenge test (Gold standard)
- Rarely done as can put patient at risk
What is the atopic triad?
Asthma, rhinitis, eczema
What are the 2 different types of rhinitis?
Allergic or non-allergic
What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis? What are they key allergens?
- Can be perennial or seasonal
- Blocked nose, runny nose, eye symptoms
- Key allergens: pollen, animals, house dust mite
What is the treatment for rhinitis?
Nasal steroids and antihistamines
What is asthma?
A disease of inflammation and hyperactivity of the small airways. Can cause damage to airways due to late phase response.
What are the immediate symptoms of asthma mediated by?
IgE
Atopic vs contact dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition, which is believed to related to an autoimmune problem. Contact dermatitis develops when the skin comes in contact with something that triggers a reaction.
Clincal features of eczema?
Intense itching, blistering/weeping, cracking of skin
What are type II hypersensitivity reactions mediated by?
- IgG/IgM antibodies targeting foreign or self antigens on the cell surface –> cytotoxic
- This triggers complement activation/phagocytosis/ADCC
Mechanism behind type II hypersensitivity reactions?
When cell surface antigens are presented to T cells, an immune response is started, targeting the cells to which the antigens are attached.
Antibodies binding to cells can activate the complement system, leading to degranulation of neutrophils, a release of oxygen radicals, and eventual formation of membrane attack complex – all of which lead to destruction of the cell. Parts of the complement activation can also opsonise the target cell, marking it for phagocytosis.