Immunotherapies Flashcards
What is the main goal of manipulating the immune response?
To suppress responses in autoimmunity, allergy, and graft rejection, and to induce or affect inflammation
Mention some of the disadvantages of immunosuppressants.
They are non-specific, require lifelong treatment, and carry a risk of cancer
How do corticosteroids affect the adaptive immune responses?
They suppress both the cell-mediated and humoral responses.
What types of diseases are often treated with corticosteroids
Asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and graft rejection.
What is the mechanism of action of Cyclosporine A (CyA)?
It inhibits the transcription factor NF-AT, which is necessary for IL-2 synthesis, leading to no T-cell activation.
What is the main mechanism of action of Tacrolimus?
It inhibits the transcription factor NF-AT for IL-2.
How does the drug Rapamycin work?
It blocks signaling downstream of the IL-2 receptor, which causes an anti-proliferative effect
What does Fingolimod do?
It binds to chemokine receptors on T-cells, preventing them from migrating from lymphoid organs. It is used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Describe how CTLA-4-Ig works.
It blocks B7, resulting in no costimulation of T-cells.
What is IVIg and when is it used according to the sources?
IVIg is pooled polyclonal IgG from healthy donors. It is used in immunodeficient patients and against autoimmune diseases caused by humoral responses such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, as well as in graft rejection caused by antibodies.
What does humanization of monoclonal antibodies involve? Name two types described.
It involves making monoclonal antibodies more “human-like” to reduce immunogenicity. Two types are chimeric (constant regions are human, variable regions are mouse) and humanized (all regions are human except the CDRs).
How do anti-CD3 antibodies work?
They cause T-cells to disappear through complement activation and ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). They also prevent antigen recognition by the TCR.
What effect do anti-TNF antibodies have?
They have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Give an example of an interleukin inhibitor and its mechanism.
Anti-IL-1 works by competitive blocking of IL-1R. Another example is Anti-IL-2Rα, which leads to no activation of T-cells.
How does anti-VLA-4 work?
It prevents effector T-cells from entering tissues.
What role do the checkpoint molecules CTLA-4 and PD-1 play in cancer?
They are used by cancer cells to block the T-cell response. Antibodies against these molecules can remove this blockade.
Describe the principle behind CAR T-cells.
These are T-cells that have been modified with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) consisting of a single-chain antibody receptor that can bind to a tumor antigen plus intracellular signaling motifs
Name different types of vaccines
Inactivated, attenuated, subunit, and nucleic acid vaccines.
Give an example of a nucleic acid vaccine mentioned.
RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.
True or False: The primary purpose of manipulating the immune response, according to the sources, is to suppress it.
False
True or False: Immunosuppressants are highly specific in their mechanisms of action.
False; immunosuppressants are non-specific
True or False: Corticosteroids work by enhancing adaptive immune responses
False; corticosteroids suppress both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses
True or False: Cyclosporine A (CyA) directly inhibits the production of antibodies by B-cells.
False; CyA inhibits IL-2 synthesis
True or False: Rapamycin’s main mechanism involves directly blocking the interaction between T-cells and antigen-presenting cells.
False; rapamycin blocks signaling of the IL-2R
True or False: CTLA-4-Ig blocks the costimulation necessary for T-cell activation.
True
True or False: Humanized monoclonal antibodies are entirely composed of human protein sequences.
False
True or False: Anti-CD3 antibodies can cause the elimination of T-cells through complement activation and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
True
True or False: Checkpoint molecules like CTLA-4 and PD-1 normally help to enhance T-cell responses against cancer.
False; cancer cells use these molecules to block T-cell responses
True or False: Nucleic acid vaccines, such as some COVID-19 vaccines, work by introducing viral DNA or RNA into human cells, causing them to produce viral proteins.
True
True or False: Subunit vaccines introduce the whole pathogen into the body to trigger an immune response.
False
True or False: Inactivated vaccines contain live but weakened pathogens that stimulate an immune response without causing severe disease.
False
