Immunology Flashcards
How are monoclonal antibodies made?
Monoclonal antibodies derive from the progeny of a single B cell that has been fused with a multiple myeloma tumor cell; the resultant hybrid line can grow forever in culture and make a specific antibody
Humira
A fully human mAb to TNF-a shown to slow the progress of rheumatoid arthritis
-omab
Murine - monoclonal antibodies made from immunized mice
-ximab
Chimeric - mAbs genetically engineered at the DNA level to have mouse VL and VH domains (25%) but human C domains (75%)
With time, patients will still make human anti-cheric antibody (HACA)
-zumab
Humanized mAbs - only the CDRs of the V domains are from the mouse (2% foreign)
Still, with time, patients will make human anti-human antibody (HAHA)
-umab
Human - SCID mice are implanted with human bone marrow, thymus, and lymph node; immunization of the mouse with antigen now produces human antibodies
Herceptin
Humanized Ab to EGF receptor HER-2
Downregulates the receptor and sensitizes the cell to killing by ADCC
Naturak Killer (NK) Cells
Large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) which make up 5-10% of blood lymphocytic cells; they are part of the innate immune system with receptors against molecules that appear on the surface of stressed or dysregulated cells; they recognize these cells and send apoptotic signals
Antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)
NK cells have receptors for the Fc end of IgG; NK cells can recognize therapeutic mAb coating target cells and send apoptotic signals to that cell
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)
T cells can be removed from cancer patients and transformed using a lentivirus vector to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR); the CAR is usually comprised of the VL/VH fragment of an antibody with high specificity against tumor-related antigens, a transmembrane region, and an intracellular T-cell signaling molecule such as CD3
This transformed CTL can then bind a tumor target with high affinity and specificity and be triggered via its normal TCR pathway to become a fully cytotoxic cell
Blood group antigens
Glycolipids found on the surface of all body cells, including RBCs; comprised of a basic “H antigen” linked by a specific glucosyl transferase to variant terminal sugars; the 3 possible alleles of the glucosyl transferase enzyme confer antigenic specificity A, B, or O
Blood group substances
Glycoproteins found in the body fluids of people who have the Secretor (Se) phenotype (80%); these glycoproteins are antigenically similar to blood group antigens
Rh antigens
Rh antigens are proteins coded for at two loci, the most important of which is the D/d locus
D is dominant over “d” which is an amorph and does not make protein
Genotypes DD or Dd type as Rh+ and 85% of US whites have this phenotype; Rh- individuals do not make isohemagglutinins against Rh unless they are immunized by Rh+ cells
ABO Isohemagglutinins
IgM antibodies made against foreign ABO blood antigens; theey appear in the blood between 3 and 6 months of age
Bombay blood type
These individuals lack the transferase gene that puts the final sugar on the core ABO antigen polysaccharide; therefore, they do not express even the basic “H” antigen and all blood is foreign to them
In a lab not looking for this the individual will type as “O”
Crossmatch procedure
Plasma from the blood recipient is mixed with red cells from the donor; agglutination means that lots of high activity antibodies against the donor’s RBCs exist in the recipient’s serum
This test is further evaluated in a medium that neutralizes the repulsive charges of RBCs, providing a more sensitive test for agglutination
Direct Antiglobulin Test Procedure
Uses antibody against human Ig to detect human Ig on the surface of RBCs
Patient’s RBCs are washed and antibody against human Ig is added; if the RBCs had some human Ig on them then the antiglobulin will cross-link the antibody-bound RBCs, leading to agglutination
Detects cells that were coated with antibody in vivo
Indirect antiglobulin test procedure
Uses antibody against human Ig to detect human Ig in plasma
Patient’s serum is added to donor RBCs; the patient’s antibody will bind the donor’s RBCs but may not be enough to agglutinate; antiglobulin is added, which cross-links the donor’s RBCs that have been bound by the patient’s Ab
Detects antibody in the circulation
Heterophile antibodies
Antibodies that are directed against one antigen but also cross-react with a different antigen
Monospot test
Antibody test for EBV (Mononucleiosis)
Patients make a serum antibody to EBV viral antigen that happens to cross-react with sheep RBCs; therefore, agglutination of sheep RBCs with addition of the patient’s serum is a positive screening test for EBV mononucleiosis
Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn - Complications
High levels of bilirubin released from lysed RBCs can cross the BBB and damage the basal ganglia, resulting in cerebral palsy or death
Jaundice
Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn - Mechanism
When an RhD- mom is pregnant with an RhD+ baby, any event (labor, abortion, miscarriage) that allows escape of RBCs from placental to maternal circulation can sensitize the mother to produce IgG against RhD
In a subsesquent pregnancy with an RhD- fetus these anti-RhD IgG can cross the placenta and gain access to fetal circulation where they opsonize fetal RBCs for destruction by the RE system, causing massive hemolysis
Rh-immune globulin (RhoGAM)
RhoGAM is IgG antibody to RhD; these antibodies combine with fetal red cells in maternal circulation, opsonizing them for destruction before they can immunize her against RhD
Should be administered at 28 weeks and also each time there is a chance of being immunized by RhD cells, including delivery, abortions, fetal manipulations, amniocentesis, etc.
ABO Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
Rarely, some type O mothers can make IgG isohemagglutinins against the fetal ABO antigens; these IgG can cross the placenta and cause hemolytic disease of the wrong-type fetus
Serum protein electrophoresis
Serum is applied to an agar plate and voltage is applied across the plate causing proteins to separate by size; proteins can be stained and the results are given as a trace with the following peaks:
Albumin, alpha1, alpha2, B, and gamma
Immunoglobulins generally segregate into the gamma peak
Bence Jones Protein
Free Ig light chains seen in the urine of patients with multiple myeloma; diagnosed by protein electrophoresis
Single radial immunodiffusion
Gel containing rabbit anti-serum to human Ig is plated and human serum is added to a well in the middle of the plate
Ig within the patient’s serum will precipitate out with the anti-Ig in the agar and the size of the precipitated ring gives information about how much Ig was present in the serum
This technique can be used to measure any multivalent antigen that can form a precipitate with the appropriate antibody, as long as you have the specific antiserum
Test for antinuclear antibodies
Patient serum is added to human cells grown on a slide and fixed with an agent that makes the cells’ plasma membranes permeable to antibodies; fluorescent-labeled anti-human IgG is added and the pattern of fluorescences allows detection of antibodies attached to nuclear antigens