Hypersensitivity +Immunity Flashcards
what is hypersensitivity?
group of disorders where the normally beneficial components of the immune response, act in an EXAGGERATED or inappropriate fashion to environmental antigens which do not normally cause tissue damage
what is responsible for the tissue damage in a hypersensitivity response?
the exaggerated response directed at the antigen (rather than the antigen itself)
What is Type 1 hypersensitivity?
ALLERGY:
- most common
- caused by inappropriate production of IgE which is directed at allergens
how do allergens cause an allergic reaction? (4)
- inhaled (airborne)
- ingested
- injected
- skincontact
Mere synthesis of IgE is not enough on its own to produce a clinical allergy, but allergic problems arise through a combination of different factors- what are they?
- genetic factors
- environmental influences
- hormonal factors
- neurological influences
- immune regulatory factors
Describe mechanism of T Helper cells in type 1 hypersensitivity (3)
- allergen is shown to T helper cells by an APC (antigen presenting cell)
- T helper stimulates B cells to differentiates and stimulate IgE against the foreign antigen
- from then, any exposure to the antigen will cause the release of cytokines from mast cells resulting in an allergic response
what is an allergy?
a clinical expression/disorder of the atopic tendency (15-20% of population)
what is an atopy?
- A genetic tendency to produce IgE to normally innocuous, common environmental allergens
- state of sub-clinical immune sensitisation
- most people will have increased IgE towards something but it doesn’t make it an allergy as there aren’t any symptoms
what are the 2 types of mast cell mediators?
- preformed
2. newly synthesised
what are examples of preformed mast cell mediators?
- histamine
- heparin
- tryptase
- chymase
- eosinophil/neutrophil chemotactic factors
what are examples of newly synthesised mast cell mediators?
- prostaglandins
- leukotrienes
what do mast cell mediators cause in the body?
- mucosal oedema
- capillary leakage
- secretions
- smooth muscle contraction
- vasodilation
what is an early phase response to type 1 hypersensitivity?
- happens within minutes
- preformed mast cell mediators
what is late phase response to type 1 hypersensitivity?
- happen within hours
- newly synthesised mediators
- TH2 cytokines (produced by T helpers)
- eosinophil mediators
therefore, what two factors produce the allergy response?
- mast cells (produce mediators)
- IgE (antibodies)
what is Type 2 hypersensitivity?
- IgG/IgM mediated
- body’s antibodies bind to the antigen on the cell surface
- the target antigens are:
1. self or exogenous/foreign
2. cell surface or fixed in tissues - can be seen as an autoimmune response
- antigen can be self or exogenous
what do IgG and IgM antibodies trigger?
- The complement system causing cell lysis
what are the steps for tissue damage in type 2 hypersensitivity? (4)
- complement- dependent lysis
- Fc receptor mediated damage (antibody binds to Fc receptor on cells and stimulates phagocytes)
- antibody- dependent cellular cytotoxicity
- effects on cellular function can be either inhibitory or stimulatory