Immunology Flashcards
What is the acute phase response following recognition of pathogens?
- Innate immunity sense non self
- Cytokines produced
- Acute phase reactants produced
- Measures to localise the spread of infection and enhance systemic resistance
What do PRPs recognise in infections and tissue damage?
Infections: pathogens associated molecular patterns (PAMPS)
Tissue damage: danger/damage associated molecular patterns
Where are TLR-like and NOD-like receptors located?
TLR - on cell surface
NOD - cytosolic
What are pro-inflammatory cytokines?
IL-1B, IL-18, IL-6, TNF-alpha - all induced by TLR activation
What do pro-inflammatory cytokines lead to? 4
1/ activation of complement opsonisation
2/ phagocytosis
3/ decreased viral/bacterial activation
4/ initiate adaptive immune response
How do steroids suppress pro-inflammatory genes?
In nucleus - steroids induce expression of anti-inflammatory genes and suppress pro-inflammatory genes
Why is C reactive protein the best marker for an acute phase response?
- it is pro-inflammatory
- important opsonin
What are the 3 pathways in complement system?
- alternative - activated by microbe
- Classical - activated by Ab-Ag immune complexes
- Lectin - activated by MBL
What are the physiologic activities of complement once it recognises pathogens?
- host defence: opsonisation for phagocytosis, chemotaxis and lysis of bacteria and cells (MAC)
2 interface between innate and adaptive immune systems - Disposal of waste
How can abnormalities in complement be detected?
Assessmemt of C3 and C4 serum levels
What is classical complement deficiency associated with?
Pyogenic infection and SLE
What are the 3 major classes of innate phagocytes?
- Granuloctyes
- Macrophages
- immature D.C’s
What cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity and what do they do?
Intracellular organisms
T helper cells (CD4+) - activate macrophages to kill phagocytksed microbes
Cytotoxic T cells (CD8+) - bind infected cells and kill them directly
What is central and peripheral tolerance?
Central - Self antigens are presented to T cells in the thymus before they are released into periphery
Peripheral - T cells with self recognition are killed in the periphery
What cells are involved in humoral mediated immunity?
B cells - recognise extracellular
Follicular b cells: T cell dependent and produce a/b
Marginal zone B cells and B1 B-cells: T independent (IgM and short lived plasma cells) and they are important in polysaccharide and lipid responses
What are the 2 types of immunodeficiency?
Primary: inherent defect
Secondary: acquired problems as a result of another disorder (infection, drugs, haematological)
When should a Primary immunodeficiency disorder be suspected?
- Patients with infections - recurrent, opportunistic
- Family history of PID
- Other complications associated with immune deficiency - failure to thrive, facial features, cardiac abnormalities
How can PID’s be categorised?
B cell defects:
- XLA
- CVID
Combined immunodeficiencies
1. SCID
Phagocyte defects
1. CGD
What is X-linked agammaglobulinaemia?
Disorder of defective B cell development
- No B cells due to mutation in BTK
- usually present at 6months when maternal IgG disappears
- commonly get pneumonia and otitis media
What is common variable immunodeficiency?
Defective B cell differentiation
- sinopulmonary and GI infections
Diagnosis: low Ig’s of at least 2 isotopes
Treatment: Ig replacement therapy/prophylactic antibiotics
What is severe combined immunodeficiency?
Defect of T and B cells characterised by absence of T cells.
- proofed susceptibility to infection
What are the groups of genetic defects that can cause SCID?
- cytokines not signalling properly
- recombination of antigen receptors
- premature lymphocytic death
- defects in TCR
- defects affecting thymus development
What is chronic granulomatous disease?
Disordered phagocyte killing
- defective killing mechanism allows the microbe to survive causing granuloma formation and ongoing sterile inflammation
- skin, bone, liver, GI tract most susceptible
What are 4 unwanted immune responses and examples?
- Autoimmune - SLE, RA
- Alloimmune - rejection of transplants
- Immune-mediated inflammatory disorders - sarcoidosis
- Allergic - asthma, atopic excema
What do these drugs have in common: cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus
Inhibit lymphocyte signalling
What are some cytotoxic agents?
Anti-metabolite: MTX, AZA, mycophenolate
Alkylating: cyclophosphamide
What are patient considerations when choosing an immunosuppressant?
Age, gender, comorbidities, fertility status, genetics, medications
How do steroids act as immunosuppressants?
Bind to cystolic receptors, enter nucleus, alter gene expression of lymphocytes (inhibit NFkB)
Why is stopping steroids a slow process?
Steroids are adrenal suppressors so the body may take time to produce its own again
How does azathioprine act?and what are the side effects?
Inhibits DNA production and lymphocyte proliferation
Side effects: hypersensitivity, GI upset, hepatotoxicity, BM toxicity and infection
How does methotrexate act as an immunosuppressant? side effects
MTX inhibits folic acid metabolism, which is needed for DNA replication
Side effects: teratogen, BM suppression and infection, nausea, mouth ulcers, hepatotoxicity
How does mycophenolate act? and side effects
Inhibits the enzyme needed for production guanosine in lymphocytes
side effects - GIT upset, BM suppression, infection, teratogenic
How does cyclophosphamide act?
Potent alkylating agent - cross links DNA helix preventing division and replication= SEVERE drug
What is an example of a mono-clonal antibody and how does this class act?
Rituximab - antiCD20 antibody causes B cell depletion as it is a marker on B cells
May also stop T reactive responses as CD20 is on APCs that present to T cells
What are some TNF-alpha inhibitors? and their side effects?
Infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab
Side effects - infection, HF, Demyelinating disorders, infection, cytopenias
What are some hallmarks of endocrine autoimmunity?
- auto reactive T cells
- chronic inflammatory infiltrate (lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, germinal centres)
What are autoimmune diseases of the thyroid?
Hyperthyroidism - thyrotoxicosis
- Grave’s disease
- Toxic multi nodular goitre
- Toxic adenoma
Hypothyroidism - thyroiditis
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Atrophic thyroiditis
What is the disease process in Grave’s disease?
- Autoantibodies to TSH receptor
- stimulate hypertrophy and hyperplasia
- auto-antibody binds TSH receptor and mimics TSH
What are signs of Grave’s disease?
- weight loss
- nervous
- weakness
- sweating
- heat intolerance
- enlarged thyroid
- fast pulse
- tremor
- exophthalmos and periorbital myxoedema
What are the eye signs of Grave’s?
Stare and lid-lag
Exophthalmous - swelling of eye tissue = bulge
What is the laboratory diagnosis of Grave’s?
High T4
Low TSH
Diffuse increase in radio iodine uptake
- anti-thyroid peroxidase TPO and anti-thyroglobulin TG confirms autoimmunity and predicts eventual thyroid failure
- anti-TSH receptor antibodies confirm Grave’s