Immune Modulating Therapies 2 Flashcards
What is the purpose of immune modulation of the immune system?
To suppress the immune response in conditions where it is overactive
What are some ways to suppress the immune system (6)
Steroids. Anti-proliferative agents. Plasmapheresis. Inhibitors of cell signalling. Agents directed at cell surface antigens. Agents directed at cytokines
What are corticosteroids
Synthetic glucocorticoids
What are corticosteroids based on
Naturally occurring steroids
What do steroids not act on
Minderalocorticoid receptors
What disorders are corticosteroids used in (5)
Allergic disorders Auto-immune disease Auto-inflammatory diseases Transplantation Malignant disease
Give some examples of steroids (3)
Prednisolone
Dermovate
Hydrocortisone
What prostaglandin do steroids affects
Inhibit phospholipase A2
What is the normal action of phospholipase A2
Breaks down phospholipids to form arachidonic acid which is converted to eicosanoids (e.g. prostaglandins, leukotrines) by cyclo-oxygenase.
What effect do corticosteroids have on phospholipase A2
Blocks arachidonic acid and prostaglandin formation and so reduces inflammation
What effect do steroids have on phagocytes (3)
Decrease traffic of phagocytes to inflamed tissue (decreased expression of adhesion molecules on endothelium. Blocks the signals that tell immune cells to move from the bloodstream and into tissues - results in transient increase in neutrophil counts in blood).
Decreased phagocytosis.
Decreased release of proteolytic enzymes.
What effect do steroids have on lymphocyte function (4)
Lymphopenia (sequestration of lymphocytes in lymphoid tissue - affects CD4+ T cells > CD8+ T cells > B cells)
Blocks cytokine gene expression
Decreased antibody production
Promotes apoptosis
What broad categories can the side effects of steroids be categorised into (3)
Metabolic effects.
Other effects.
Immunosuppression.
What are the metabolic effects of steroids (7)
Diabetes. Central obesity. Moon face. Lipid abnormalities. Osteoporosis. Hirsuitism. Adrenal suppression.
What are the effects of steroids apart from metabolic ones (5)
Cataracts. Glaucoma. Peptic ulceration. Pancreatitis. Avascular necrosis.
What systems do steroids act on to suppress the immune system (3)
Prostaglandins.
Phagocytes.
Lymphocytes.
What are some anti-proliferative immunosuppressants (4)
Cyclophosphamide.
Mycophenolate.
Azathioprine.
Methotrexate.
What is the MOA of anti-proliferative immunosuppressants.
Inhibit DNA synthesis.
What cells are most sensitive to the effects of anti-proliferative immunosuppressants
Cells with rapid turnover.
What are the toxic effects of anti-proliferative immunosuppressants (4)
Bone marrow suppression
Infection
Malignancy
Taratogenic
What is the MOA of cyclophosphamide
Alkylates guanine base of DNA - damages DNA and prevents cell replication.
What cells does cyclophosphoamide most affect
B cells > T cells, but at high doses affects all cells with high turnover.
What are the major indications for cyclophosphoamide (2)
Multisystem connective tissue disease or vasculitis with severe end organ involvement (e.g. GPA (Wegener’s granulomatosis), SLE)
Anti-cancer agent.
What are the side effects of cyclophosphoamide (4)
Toxic to proliferating cells (bone marrow suppression, hair loss, sterility M>F)
Haemorrhagic cystitis (toxic metabolite acrolein excreted via urine).
Malignancy (bladder, haematological, non-melanoma skin cancer)
Infection (pneumocystis juroveci)
What is the MOA of azathioprine
Metabolised by liver to 6 mercaptopurine
Blocks de novo purine (e.g. adenine, guanine) synthesis - prevents replication of DNA
What cells does azathioprine preferentially affect
Inhibits T cells activation and proliferation
What are the indications for the use of azathioprine (3)
Transplantation
Auto-immune disease
Auto-inflammatory diseases (e.g. Crohn’s, UC)
What are the side effects of azathioprine (3)
Bone marrow suppression (cells with rapid turnover (leucocytes and platelets) are particularly sensitive).
Hepatotoxicity (idiosyncratic and uncommon)
Infection (serious infection less common than with cyclophosphoamide)
How many people are particularly susceptible to the bone marrow suppression effects of azathioprine
1/300
What must be checked before starting a patient on azathioprine treatment
Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity.
Check TPMT activity or gene variats before treatment if possible - always check FBC after starting therapy.
What is the MOA of mycophenolate mofetil
Blocks de novo nucleotide synthesis - prevents replication of DNA
What cells are affected by mycophenolate mofetil
Prevents T>B cell proliferation
What are the indications to use mycophenolate mofetil (2)
Widely used in transplantation as an alternative to azathioprine
Also used in auto-immune diseases and vasculitis as an alternative to cyclophosphoamide.
What are the side effects of mycophenolate mofetil (2)
Bone marrow suppression (cells with rapid turnover (leucocytes and platelets) are particularly sensitive).
Infection (particular risk of herpes virus reactivation, and PML)
What is plasmapheresis
Patient’s own blood passes through cell separator with the aim of removal of pathogenic antibodies
Own cellular constituents reinfused. The plasma is treated to remove immunoglobulins and then reinfused (or replaced with albumin in ‘plasma exchange’)
What are the problems with plasmapheresis
Rebound antibody production limits efficacy, therefore usually given with anti-proliferative agent
What are the indications for plasmapheresis (3)
Severe antibody mediate diseases (type 2 hypersensitivity reactions)
Goodpastures syndrome (anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies) Severe acute myasthenia gravis (anti-acetyl choline receptor antibodies) Severe vascular rejection (antibodies directed at donor HLA molecules)
How do calceineurin inhibitors suppress the immune system
Calcineurin is part of the cascade for the upregulation of IL-2 (cytokine transcription - blockages prevents lymphocyte proliferationa and effector functions)
Part of the T cell signalling pathway
What two drugs inhibit calcineurin
Ciclosporin
Tacrolimus
What are the side effects of ciclosporin (5)
Dysmorphic features. Nephrotoxicity. Hypertension. Neurotoxic. Diabetogenic.