Immunopharmacology

Question 1

Immunodeficiency can be caused by defects in either the adaptive or innate immune system. True or false?

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Clinically, SCID is characterised by a low number of circulating ________

Answer 2

lymphocytes

Question 3

What is the major difference between primary SCID and secondary SCID?

Answer 3

Primary - mutations affecting large number of genes present from birth
Secondary - acquired as a consequence of disease or environmental factors such as starvation

Question 4

What is graft rejection caused by?

Answer 4

Immune response to allo-antigens on the graft which differ from individual to individual within a species and are therefore perceived as foreign

Question 5

Matching the MHC type of the donor and recipient of transplant can increase the success rate of the graft. True or false?

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What are the potential mechanisms that cancer cells use to escape immunorecognition?

Answer 6

Low immunogenicity - lack antigens recognised by T cells
Genetic instability of tumours allows antigenic change
Tumour growth factors that suppress the immune response
Secrete molecules such as collagen that forms physical barrier around tumours

Question 7

What are the 4 major classes of immunosuppressant drugs?

Answer 7

Glucorticoids
Calcineurin inhibitors
Cytotoxic agents
Biologics

Question 8

What is the oral glucorticoid that is used as an immunosuppressant?

Answer 8

Prednisone

Question 9

What is the parenteral glucorticoid that is used as an immunosuppressant?

Answer 9

Methylprednisolone

Question 10

Cyclosporine is soluble in water but soluble in other organic compounds. True or false?

Answer 10

False - insoluble in water but soluble in other organic compounds

Question 11

What is the moa of cyclosporine?

Answer 11

Calcineurin inhibitor so it can’t dephosphorylate NFATc so secretion of cytokines e.g. IL2 is inhibited

Question 12

What is the moa of tacrolimus?

Answer 12

Calcineurin inhibitor so it can’t dephosphorylate NFATc so secretion of cytokines e.g. IL2 is inhibited

Question 13

What is the mao of sirolimus?

Answer 13

TOR inhibitor

Question 14

Mycophenolate mofetil is a biologic. True or false?

Answer 14

False - it’s a cytotoxic agent for B and T lymphocytes - it blocks the production of guanosine nucleotides needed for DNA synthesis

Question 15

Muromonab-CD3, daclizumab and basiliximab are monoclonal antibodies used as immunosuppressants. True or false?

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Daclizumab and basiliximab are directed against IL2 receptors. True or false?

Answer 16

True

Question 17

What is adoptive immunotherapy used in the treatment of and how does it work?

Answer 17

Cancer
Individual’s own WBCs are coupled with naturally produced growth factors and are injected at the tumour site to enhance immune response locally

Question 18

In adoptive immunotherapy, the patient is both the donor and recipient. True or false?

Answer 18

True