Inflammation Flashcards
What are the 5 components of inflammation?
Heat, redness, swelling, pain, loss of function
What is the inflammatory process
Natural response of tissue to injury
Attack and remove cause of injury, repair damaged tissue
Beneficial, protective, self-limiting
What are the neurons involved in inflammation (pain)
Sensory neurons
Mediate nociception, release neuropeptides, contribute to redness and swelling, substance p, calcitonin gene related peptide
How does neuropeptides induced inflammation work?
Skin injury stimulates mast cells to release histamine
This sends signals to the brain
Also signals causes release of neuropeptides substance P and CGRP and this causes blood vessels to dilate and leak
Pg and CGRP
PG= prostaglandins. Increase level of pain detected CGRP= calcitonin gene related peptide. More potent than Pg
Inflammation involves complex interplay between… (5 things)
Microvasculature (small blood vessels) Leukocytes (white blood cells) Nerves Tissue cells (structural, immune) Chemical mediators of inflammation (produced by all the above, plasma)
Rheumatoid arthritis background
A chronic inflammatory joint disease Affects 1-2% of uk population 3:1 female:male Variable onset 30-50 years Complex pathology with unknown cause- genetic factors, immunological factors (autoantibodies), hormonal factors, neuronal factors, environmental factors
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Affects numerous tissues and organs- predominant features of inflammation of the joints.
Loss of cartilage, bone erosion mediated by proteinases- predominantly Matrix Metallo Proteinases (MMP) secreted by tissue cells (synovial fibroblasts, chondrocytes).
Fibrous tissue formation (scarring) and loss of mobility
How are tissue cells activated in RA?
By infiltrating leukocytes, driven by inflammatory mediators and cytokines, particularly derived from macrophages (TNFalpha, IL-1beta).
T and B lymphocytes help to maintain cytokine production
What are the types of leukocytes? (white blood cells)
Granulocytes- neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
Mononuclear cells- monocytes (macrophages), lymphocytes (T and B cells)
Mast cells
What is a macrophage?
’ big eater’
Defence against environment- phagocytosis, respiratory burst
Arise from blood monocytes
Long lived (months)
Major source of cytokines- IL-1, TNF, chemokines
What are lymphocytes?
Define by surface antigens, the cytokines they make and function
T cells and B cells
What are the types of T cells?
T helper (CD4+)- TH1 and TH2 T cytotoxic (CD8+)- Tc Natural killer (NK, NKT) Th17 Regulatory T cell (Treg)
What are B cells?
Mature to become antibody secreting ‘plasma cells’
What are T cells?
T cells are controllers of the specific immune system
T cells subsets secrete different cytokines
Different cytokines are associated with different immune responses
Imbalance or inappropriate activation of T-cell subsets leads to disease
What are the chemical mediators of inflammation?
Diverse molecules produced by the host in response to infection and immune reactions.
Low specificity (not antibodies)
Promote and effect inflammation
Why is inflammation beneficial?
Increase supply of cells and chemical mediators to site of inflammation- redness: increases blood flow, swelling: increased vascular permeability, allow removal of damaged tissue and infections agents, supply new materials for repair.
Tells body to rest- pain, loss of function
What is the mediator response to local injury? (5 things)
Release of pre-formed mediators- histamine
Rapid production of mediators from membrane lipids- eicosanoids (PGE2, PGI2), Leukotrienes (LTB4), PAF
Release of peptides from stimulated neurones- substance P, CGRP
Mediator production following proteinase activation- bradykinin, complement fragments (c3a, c5a)
Later (hours) production following protein synthesis- iNOS, COX2, cytokines
What mediators cause vasodilation?
Histamine Eicosanoids- PGE2, PGI2 Neuropeptides Bradykinin Nitric oxide
Which mediators increase vascular permeability?
Histamine Eicosanoids- LTB4, LTC4 PAF- platelet activating factor Bradykinin C3a, c5a
What is plasma exudation?
Some agents increase plasma leakage via an action directly on the endothelium- histamine, bradykinin.
Neutrophil activators increase plasma leakage via a neutrophil dependent mechanism- LTB4, fmLP, interleukin-8
What is histamine synthesised from?
L-histidine goes to histamine using enzyme Histidine decarboxylase. Histamine goes inactive Imidazolyl acetic acid using enzyme histaminase
What inhibits histidine decarboxylase?
Tritotoqualine
Where is histamine stored?
Mainly in mast cells (in skin, lungs, gut and nasal mucosa)
Histamine is basic and is stored with acidic high molecular weight heparin
What is histamines stimuli for release?
Type 1 immediate hypersensitivity via IgE (allergy)
Chemicals: e.g. Insect bites
Mechanical injury to skin
What is the triple vascular response?
Redness (depends on soluble, chemical mediator)
Flare (depends on nerve supply)
Weal (depends on soluble, chemical mediator)
What is the cutaneous response to histamine or allergen?
Triple response:
Arterial vasodilation- local reddening
Oedema formation (WHEAL)
Axon reflex (FLARE)- release of neuropeptides