Immunology of Asthma and COPD Flashcards
what may happen that causes bronchial hypersensitiveness?-asthma immunology
exposure of sensory airway nerves following damage to the ciliated epithelial layer by cytotoxic mediators released as a result of exposure to inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and cytokines
for the immediate phase what type of medicines do we use?-asthma immunology
- use B-agonists to dilate and open up the airways, short acting or long acting
- antagonists of leukotriene receptors to help block them from binding and having an effect
- steroids to block inflammatory response in later phase, therefore trying to prevent it
what are the main cell types in COPD?
macrophages
neutrophils
airway epithelial cells
CD+8 cells
how many macrophages do people with COPD have compared to normal people?
more
how do macrophages affect COPD?
are increased in bronchial aveoli lavage fluid (BAL), the number in the alveolar wall correlates with inflammatory destruction and in the airways correlates with obstruction
how do neutrophils affect COPD?
found in increased volumes in the lungs of smokers, sequestered in lung capillaries, become sticky and get stuck there and drive inflammatory response. found in BAL and sputum
how do airway epithelial cells affect COPD?
first barrier of defence, secrete cytokines and chemokines, recruit leukocytes and drive an inflammatory response
how do CD+8 cells affect COPD?
most abundant T cell subset in COPD. Increased in epithelium and correlates with reduced lung function. cytotoxic t cells
what are some of the important mediators that are increased in COPD?
- leukotriene B4 =attracts t cells and neutrophils to area of inflammation
- IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) attracts cells from the circulation
- pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFalpha, IL-1, IL-6
- growth factors= TGF can lead to fibrosis
what are some protease inbalances in COPD?
-neutrophil elastase= which breaks down aveoli attachments
what are some pro/anti-oxidants that drive an inflammatory response?
-from cigarette smoke we can get reactive oxygen/nitrogen species that will cause damage to epitheilal and drive inflammatory repsonse.
what is the main cause of COPD?
cigarette smoke and will activate our aveoli macrophages when breathed in and epithelial cells that line respiratory tract once they are activated they will secrete chemokines and cytokines driving a inflammatory response also recruiting other cells into the area. oxidants are coming into the area causing damage too
