Immunopathology Flashcards
DiGeorge Syndrome
Caused by a large deletion on chromosome 22 which alters development of the thymus, parathyroids, and great vessels of the heart; characterized by absent T cells (B cells are normal)
C - Cardiovascular abnormalities A - Abnormal face T - Thymus abnormalities C - Cleft H - Hypoparathyroidism 22
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
The most severe of the immunodeficiency syndromes, caused by a block of maturation of the hematopoietic stem cell to pre-T and pre-B lineage precursors
Half of cases are X-linked recessive IL-7R deficiency; half are adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency causing adenosine to accumulate in lymphocytes, impairing their development into B cells and T cells
Characterized lymphopenia of T and B cell lineages
Treatment: PEGylated ADA (for AR cases); irradiated RBCs and bone marrow transplantation can be successful, but GvH is a major risk
X-linked (Bruton’s) hypogammaglobulinemia
Caused by a block in B cell maturation from Pre-B to mature B cell stages due to defective Btk tyrosine kinase, important in the development of B cells
Characterized by low to absent B cells in the serum (serum IgG < 10% of normal); T cells are normal
Kids can’t be screened at birth because maternal IgG is present; kids are treated with IVIG
Common variable immunodeficiency
B cells are present but difficult to stimulate into making specific antibody; caused by defects in one or multiple pathways necessary for B cell activation
Often treated with IVIG as needed
X-linked hyperIgM Syndrome
Caused by a defect in CD40L on Tfh cells and CD40 on B cells, which facilitate the class-switching interaction
Characterized by high IgM and low IgG
Selective IgA deficiency
The most common immunodeficiency disease (1/500)
Usually asymptomatic although patients may experience GI infections, sinopulmonary infections, or allergies
10-15x more frequent in people with celiac disease
What infections are associated with pure B cell deficiency?
Associated with infection by extracellular (high grade) pathogens:
Staph aureus
Haemophilus influenza
Streptococcus pneumonia
What infections are associated with pure T cell deficiency?
Associated with infections caused by intracellular pathogens including viruses, yeast, and fungi:
Candida albicans
Pneumocystis jirovecii
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Type II Immunopathology
Characterized by the production of anti-RBC antibodies, often following viral infection or drug exposure
“Cold” antibodies bind RBCs in the extremities and dissociate at warmer core temperatures; complement is activated and lyses the RBC
“Warm” antibodies bind RBCs in the core and mediate cell destruction in the spleen
Myasthenia Gravis
Type II immunopathology
A disease of progressive muscle weakness caused by the production of auto-antibody against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) on the neuromuscular end plate; neutrophils release digestive enzymes at the NMJ resulting in synaptic destruction
Caused by the presence of a certain allele of CHRNA1 coding for the AChR which does not interact with AIRE; therefore, the AChR gene is not expressed in the thymus and AchR-reactive Tfh cells are available to help B cells make antibody to the receptor
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Type II immunopathology
Caused by the production of autoantibodies to thyroid antigens; the thyroid is infiltrated by T cells resulting in tissue destruction and hypothyroidism
Long acting Thyroid Stimulator (LATS)
An IgG auto-antibody to the TSH receptor on thyroid cells found in the blood of most patients with hyperthyroidism; LATS binds the TSH receptor mimicking TSH and causing extended release of thyroid hormones
Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP)
Caused by the production of autoantibodies against platelets; platelets become opsonized by complement and their destruction occurs in the spleen
Inappropriate tachycardia
Caused by the production of autoantibodies to the B-adrenergic receptor on the heart; these antibodies mimic the receptor’s endogenous signaling molecules and cause inappropriate cardiovascular stimulation
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Defined as heart disease occuring shortly after streptococcal infection; caused by cross-reaction between anti-strep antibodies and the antigen laminin found on heart valves, followed by neutrophil-mediated tissue destruction
Dressler syndrome
Caused by the creation of autoantibodies against pericardial or myocardial antigens following heart attack
Characterized by persistent cardiac pain, fever, malaise, and pericardial effusion seen post-MI; treated with anti-inflammatory agents
Goodpasture’s Syndrome
Caused by production of autoantibodies to Type IV collagen in the basement membrane of lung and kidneys; presents as glomerulonephritis and pneumonitis
Diagnosis: A biopsy of the patient’s kidney or lung will have IgG on its basement membrane; adding labeled anti-IgG will allow visualization of these autoantibodies in a “sharp” pattern of fluorescence
Innocent bystander phenomenon
Antibody-mediated damage to tissue that happens to be associated with an antigen
Ex: A drug adheres to RBCs and the body makes antibody to the drug, lysing RBCs in the process
Mechanism of antigenic carrier coupling
Many B cells in the body are auto-reactive but never activated against self antigen because they never receive the proper signaling from Tfh cells; if a foreign antigen is coupled to a self protein, the foreign protein may be taken up with the self protein by a B cell, digested, and loaded onto MHC-II on the B cell surface; now, Tfh cells will recognize the foreign antigen presented by the B cell and stimulate it to secrete it’s own, anti-self antibody
Tissue damage via exposure of a sequestered antigen
Occurs when an immune response is initiated in an anatomical location where a previously sequestered antigen was separated from the general system
Ex: Some men who get mumps become sterile because mumps breaks down the blood/testes barrier, allowing immunization to these normally sequestered sperm antigens
AIRE
A TF driving thymic expression of various extra-thymic proteins; developing T cells that are exposed to these preoteins in the thymus are deleted via negative selection so they do not become auto reactive
How does the Mantoux PPD test work?
PPD tuberculosis antigen is injected intradermally; the antigen is taken up by local macrophages and dendritic cells, which present it on MHC-II. If the patient has an increased number of circulating anti-TB Th1 memory cells from a prior exposure they will be stimulated to produce IFNy and attract M1 macrophages. After 48 hours, the test is read as positive if it is red, expanded, and firm, indicating infiltration of macrophages.