Immunology

Question 1

What type of enzyme is MMP9

Answer 1

Gelatinase

Question 2

What is Churg Strauss Syndrome (Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA))?

Answer 2

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), also known as allergic granulomatosis,[2][3] is an extremely rare autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of small and medium-sized blood vessels (vasculitis) in persons with a history of airway allergic hypersensitivity (atopy).

It usually manifests in three stages. The early (prodromal) stage is marked by airway inflammation; almost all patients experience asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. The second stage is characterized by abnormally high numbers of eosinophils (hypereosinophilia), which causes tissue damage, most commonly to the lungs and the digestive tract. The third stage consists of vasculitis, which can eventually lead to cell death and can be life-threatening.

Question 3

What is Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Answer 3

Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked recessive disease characterized by eczema, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), immune deficiency, and bloody diarrhea (secondary to the thrombocytopenia)

Question 4

What is X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) (aka Burton agammaglobulinemia)

Answer 4

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a condition that affects the immune system and occurs almost exclusively in males. People with XLA have early onset agammaglobulinemia (all immunoglobulins decreased) and few B cells. This tends to present with more severe and widespread infection in the neonatal and infancy period (6-12months), shortly after the baby loses their maternal immunity. Late presenting cases have also been described.