Immunopathology 1 Flashcards
what is hypersensitivity?
host tissue injured during immune response to a foreign antigen
how many types of hypersensitivity are there and how are they classified?
4 types
coombs and gell classification
what is the immune reactant of type 1 hypersensitivity?
IgE
what is the immune reactant of type 2 hypersensitivity?
IgG
what is the immune reactant of type 3 hypersensitivity?
IgG
what is the immune reactant of type 4 hypersensitivity?
TH1 cells/TH2 cells/CTL
what is the antigen of type 1 hypersensitivity?
soluble antigen
what is the antigen of type 2 hypersensitivity?
cell/matrix-associated antigen
or
cell-surface receptor
what is the antigen of type 3 hypersensitivity?
soluble antigen
what is the antigen of type 4 hypersensitivity?
soluble / cell-associated antigen
what is the effector mechanism of type 1 hypersensitivity?
mast cell activation
what is the effector mechanism of type 2 hypersensitivity?
Complement FcR+ cells (phagocytes/ NK cells)
(cell/matrix-associated antigen)
antibody alters signalling (cell-surface receptor)
what is the effector mechanism of type 3 hypersensitivity?
complement, phagocytes
what is the effector mechanism of type 4 hypersensitivity?
macrophage activation (TH1 cells)
IgE production, eosinophil activation (TH2 cells)
cytotoxicity (CTL)
what is an example of a hypersensitivity reaction of type 1 hypersensitivity?
allergic rhinitis, asthma, systemic anaphylaxis
what is an example of a hypersensitivity reaction of type 2 hypersensitivity?
drug allergies e.g. penicillin (cell/matrix-associated antigen)
or
chronic urticaria (cell-surface receptor)
what is an example of a hypersensitivity reaction of type 3 hypersensitivity?
serum sickness/arthus reaction
what is an example of a hypersensitivity reaction of type 4 hypersensitivity?
contact dermatitis (TH1 cells)
chronic asthma (TH2 cells)
graft rejection (CTL)
what is localised type 1 hypersensitivity?
hay fever, asthma
what is generalised type 1 hypersensitivity?
anaphylaxis
what is the mechanism of type 1 hypersensitivity?
allergen binds to IgE on mast cell (containing heparin and histamine) -> crosslinks 2 receptors -> activates cell -> degranulation
when mast cells are activated and degranulate, what is the effect on the gastrointestinal tract?
increased fluid secretion
increased peristalsis
diarrhoea/vomitting
when mast cells are activated and degranulate, what is the effect on the airways?
increased diameter increased mucus secretion congestion of airways coughing/phlegm swelling and mucus in nasal passages
when mast cells are activated and degranulate, what is the effect on the blood vessels?
increased blood flow
increased permeability
increased fluid in tissues -> increased lymph to lymph nodes -> increased cells and protein in tissues, increased effector response in tissues
what are the risk factors for the development of a food allergy?
immature mucosal immune system
early introduction of solid food
hereditary increase in mucosal permeability
IgA deficiency or delayed IgA production
what do antibodies bind to in type 2 hypersensitivity?
bind to normal or altered cell surface markers recognised as non-self
in what situations does type 2 hypersensitivity occur?
blood transfusion reaction
haemolytic disease of the newborn
what is the mechanism of type 2 hypersensitivity?
binding to a target -> activates killing mechanisms ->
complement -> lysis
or
phagocytes -> phagocytosis
what is haemolytic disease of the newborn?
RhD- mother
RhD+ baby
baby makes RhD+ cells
mother makes anti-RhD- by B cells
next pregnancy these antibodies attack the foetus and lyse foetus red blood cells
how does a direct antiglobin test work?
no agglutination - anti-human Ig doesn’t bind to RBC
agglutination - anti-human Ig binds to RBC and breaks it down
how does type 3 hypersensitivity occur?
- antibodies react with antigens
- form antibody-antigen complexes
- complexes deposited locally or distant
- induce inflammatory reaction:
complement activation
neutrophil infiltration
what is the mechanism of type 3 hypersensitivity?
immune complex forms randomly with tissue -> activates complement -> attracts neutrophils -> phagocyte structures
damages blood vessels as phagocytes releases mediators
what is type 4 hypersensitivity?
delayed reaction (>12h) - involvement of T lymphocytes
antibodies not involved
e.g. BCG test for TB
what is the mechanism of type 4 hypersensitivity?
antigens -> T cell -> cytokines -> macrophage
what is type 5 hypersensitivity?
rare
causes cellular hyperfunction
what kind of conditions are caused by type 5 hypersensitivity?
Grave’s disease
what is the mechanism of type 5 hypersensitivity?
autoantibody binds to TSH receptor -> thyroid cell stimulated -> thyroid hormone released -> thyrotoxicosis
what is autoimmunity?
breakdown of self-tolerance
tolerance - clonal deletion:
predominantly at T cell level in thymus
induced apoptosis
peripheral tolerance for T cells that escape elimination in the thymus
what happens to a Mature T cell in lymphatic tissue with Antigen recognition with costimulation?
Activation of T cell, which proliferates and differentiates
what happens to a Mature T cell in lymphatic tissue with Antigen recognition without costimulation?
inactivation of T cell
what happens to a Mature T cell in lymphatic tissue with Deletion signal?
Death of T cell
what are the Hierarchy of defence mechanisms normally preventing autoimmune disease?
- clonal deletion
- clonal anergy
- functional ignorance
- active suppression
- lack of T cell help
- sequestered autoantigen
what are the two types of autoimmune disease?
organ specific
non-organ specific
what examples are there for organ specific autoimmune disease?
brain - multiple sclerosis
thyroid - hashimoto’s
muscle - myasthenia gravis
what examples are there for non-organ specific immune disease?
muscle - dermatomyositis
skin/kidney - SLE
joints- arthiritis
what is the antigen in Grave’s disease?
TSH receptor
what is the antigen in Pernicious anaemia?
Intrinsic factor
what is the antigen in Addison’s disease?
Adrenal cells
what is the antigen in Myasthenia gravis?
Acetylcholine receptor
what is the antigen in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin
what is the antigen in Systemic lupus erythematosus ?
DNA, nuclear antigens
what is the antigen in Rheumatoid arthritis?
IgG, connective tissue
what is the definition of rheumatoid disease?
systemic, chronic inflammation, erroneously called arthritis since blood vessels, kidneys, heart, skin, lungs affected
who does rheumatoid disease affect?
young to middle-aged females, 1-2% of population
what is the cause of rheumatoid disease?
Unknown, 80% have circulating autoantibodies (IgM) against IgG Fc region, possibly initiated by response to virus/bacterium
what are the Clinicopathological features of rheumatoid disease in the skin?
rheumatoid nodules, necrotic areas surrounded by macrophages
what are the Clinicopathological features of rheumatoid disease in the joints?
synovium targeted → destruction of cartilage/bone/tendons/ligaments
what are the Clinicopathological features of rheumatoid disease in the blood vessels?
vasculitis
what are the Clinicopathological features of rheumatoid disease in the lung/heart/kidney?
non-specific inflammation
what is the definition of Systemic lupus erythematosus?
Chronic illness, fluctuating, multisystem, skin, joints, kidneys, serosal surfaces
who does Systemic lupus erythematosus affect?
young to middle-aged females
what is the cause of Systemic lupus erythematosus?
spontaneous, polyclonal B cell hyperactivity, autoantibody production, immune complex formation, anti-dsDNA, type 3 hypersensitivity
what are the pathological processes of Systemic lupus erythematosus?
vasculitis: necrosis, rashes, muscle weakness
glomerulonephritis: haematuria, proteinuria, renal failure
synovitis: arthritis
pleuritis: lung inflammation
pericarditis/endocarditis: heart failure
what is the clinical course of Systemic lupus erythematosus?
varied, death from heart/renal failure, chronic illness
what is the “butterfly” rash characteristic of?
SLE
what is the mechanism of Grave’s disease?
auto-antibody receptor binds to thyroid cell and overstimulates hormone synthesis to produce unregulated overproduction of thyroid hormones
what is the mechanism of myasthenia gravis?
autoantibody binds to ACh receptor receptor - stops ACh binding - muscle activation inhibited
what are the causes of breakdown in self-tolerance?
- polyclonal activation: dominant autoreactive cell switches on when exposed to disease e.g. epstein-barr virus
- cross reactive agents - bacterium epitope close enough to self epitope. cross reaction
- aberrant antigen presentation - structures not shown to T cells effectively. change in macrophage activity - presented oddly reaction
- regulatory abnormalities - stop signal constantly - dominant - over time breaks down
- release of sequestered antigens - parts of tissues/cells that immune system doesn’t reach - these cells released (damaged) = autoimmune response
how is genetics a Contributory factor in autoimmune aetiology?
Family studies - increased susceptibility in IDDM, autoimmune thyroid disease, RA
Concordance rates in identical twins
HLA associations (MHC)
what autoimmune diseases have an altered MHC expression?
grave's disease - thyroid epithelium type 1 diabetes - pancreatic B cells IBD - gut epithelium alopecia areata - hair follicle cells primary biliary cirrhosis - bile duct epithelium Sjogren’s syndrome - salivary ducts
how are hormones a Contributory factor in autoimmune aetiology?
autoimmune diseases generally more common in females
oestrogens accelerate animal model of SLE
oestrogens can increase antibody production by inhibiting T cell suppressor activity
how is the environment a Contributory factor in autoimmune aetiology?
Infectious agents, e.g. rheumatic heart disease following group A streptococci, rheumatoid factors following TB or leprosy
Drugs and chemicals, e.g. L-dopa and SLE
penicillamine and pemphigus vulgaris
silicon/vinyl chloride and scleroderma
cigarettes/hydrocarbon solvents and Goodpasture’s syndrome
what is the mechanism of autoimmunity in Molecular mimicry?
e.g. group A streptococcus and rheumatoid heart disease
bacterial antigen -> b cell (helper T cell helps) -> plasma cell activated -> plasma cell produces cross reacting antibody -> attacks self antigen
what is the mechanism of autoimmunity in Provision of foreign T cell epitopes?
self antigen AND foreign antigen -> b cell (helper T cell helps) -> plasma cell activated -> plasma cell produces self reacting antibody -> attacks self antigen
what is the mechanism of autoimmunity in Release of sequestered or cryptic epitopes?
self antigen -> b cell
infected APC cell/stress/cytokines -> b cell
-> plasma cell activated -> plasma cell produces self reacting antibody
(tissue usually hidden)
what is the mechanism of autoimmunity in Failure of suppression?
suppressive cytokines and hormones and T cell suppression that would normally suppress plasma cell are blocked. plasma cell produces self antigens
what is the mechanism of autoimmunity in Anti-idiotype activity?
anti-virus antibody directed against cell-binding epitope -> anti-idiotype antibody directed against anti-viral binding site -> anti-idiotype cross-reacts with viral receptor