Hypersensitivity and Autoimmunity Flashcards
What is an autoimmune disease?
A failure or breakdown of immune system that maintains tolerance to self tissues
What is loss of tolerence most likely due to?
Abnormal selection of self-reactive B and T cells
What may autoimmune disease may arise due to?
Genetics
Environment
What does the treatment of autoimmune diseases deal with?
Symptoms rather than curing the disease
How many people suffer from an autoimmune disease?
1 in 20 worldwide
What is a hypersensitive response?
Hyper response from the immune system, harmful that may produce tissue damage and cause serious disease
What are the 4 categories of hypersensitive responses?
Type I
Type II (also type V)
Type III
Type IV
Which of the hypersensitive responses are antibody mediated?
Type I, II and III
Which hypersensitive response is T cell mediated?
Type IV
What are the exposures during a hypersensitive response?
First exposure (sensitisation)
Second exposure
What is the produce of type I hypersensitivity?
1) First exposure to antigen
2) Activation of TFH cells and stimulation of IgE class switching in B cells
3) Production of IgE
4) Binding of IgE to mast cells
5) Repeated exposure to antigen
6) Mast cells form cross links with allergen and are activated
7) Release mediators such as cytokines, amines and lipid mediators
a) Histamine/lipid mediators cause immediate reaction which is vascular and smooth muscle
b) Cytokines cause late phase reaction which is inflammatory
8) During the late phase, cytokines activates eosinophils, neutrophils and T cell infiltrates which travel to the site
What do amines cause during a type I hypersensitive response?
Vasodilation and increased permeability
What do lipid mediators cause in a type I hypersensitive response?
Broncho-constriction and intestinal hypermotility
What do cytokines cause during a type I hypersensitive response?
Inflammation
What do enzymes (proteases) cause during a type I hypersensitive response?
Tissue damage
How do mast cells bind to allergens?
Fc receptors on mast cells bind to antibodies unique to the allergen, which must bind to two of these to create a cross bridge and release its mediators