Inflammatory Pharmacology Flashcards
What 2 things can stem cells be differentiated to?
Common myeloid progenitor
Common lymphoid progenitor
What can common myeloid progenitor differentiate to?
Mageakaryocyte (thrombocytes)
Erythrocyte
Mast cell
Myeloblast (basophil, neutrophil, macrophages)
What can common lymphoid progenitor differentiate to?
Small lymphocyte (B and T cells)
Natural killer cells
What is autoimmunity?
Immune response against self (autologous) antigens therefore results from some failure of the house immune system to distinguish from self to non-self
Develops when multiple layers of self tolerance are dysfunctional
What are immunogens?
Substances that are capable of eliciting an immune response
What are tolerogens?
Antigens that induce tolerance rather than immune reactivity
Why is there both central and peripheral tolerance?
Not all self antigens are expressed in central lymphoid organs where the negative selection occurs
There is a threshold requirement for affinity to self antigens before deletion is triggered
Describe central tolerance in T lymphocytes:
Immature T lymphocytes in thymus, exposure to self antigens during development
APC displays self antigen to T cell by MHC and a co-stimulatory receptor (either CD4 or CD8) is needed
What are the outcomes of central tolerance in T lymphocytes?
Binding is either-> results in
Strong-> negative selection/apoptosis
Intermediate (high affinity)-> T reg cell which enters peripheral tissue
Weak-> Positive selection
None-> apoptosis
What is the difference in purpose of central and peripheral tolerance?
Central is to train the immature lymphocytes and peripheral is to mature lymphocytes in case any were untrained from peripheral
Describe central tolerance in B lymphocytes:
Immature B lymphocytes in bone marrow, exposure to self antigens during development
B cell receptor exposed to self antigens from any other cell
What are the outcomes of central tolerance in B lymphocytes?
High avidity, receptor editing so B cell expresses a new light chain, and self antigen attaches again, if still high avidity then apopotisis
Low avidity, reduce receptor expression and becomes anergic, this means B cell will never react to self antigen again (unresponsive)
What is the purpose of receptor editing?
Changes the antigen binding site on the light chain so new antigens can bind
Describe peripheral tolerance in T lymphocytes:
T cell will bind to antigen on APC with co-stimulator receptor normally, but with self antigen no co-stimulator receptor interaction
What are the outcomes of peripheral tolerance in T lymphocytes?
Anergy- functional unresponsiveness without the necessary co-stim signals
Suppression- blocks activation by T-regs
Deletion- apoptosis
Describe peripheral tolerance in B lymphocytes:
B cell will bind to antigen and will activate a T helper cell response and produce antibodies normally, but with self antigen, it doesn’t activate a T helper cell response so no cytokine release (IL4/IL5) and therefore no antibody production
What are the outcomes of peripheral tolerance in B lymphocytes?
Without the activation of T cells:
-Becomes anergic (doesnt respond to self antigens)
-Apoptosis
-If activated it is suppressed by inhibitory receptors
Why is T cell tolerance important?
As maintaining T cell tolerance enforces B cell tolerance as T cells are needed for B cell activation
Name 6 different ways the body can undergo self tolerance:
Central tolerance
Peripheral anergy
Antigen segregation
Regulatory T cells
Cytokine deviation
Clonal deletion
Describe what is antigen segregation:
Physical barrier to self antigen access to lymphoid system, certain areas such as the eyes are never exposed to B and T cells
Occurs in peripheral organs e.g thyroid, pancreas
Describe how regulatory cells are involved in self tolerance:
Suppression by cytokines, intercellular signals in 2º lymphoid tissue and sites of inflammation
Describe cytokine deviation:
Differentiation to Th2 cells, limiting inflammatory cytokine secretion in 2º lymphoid tissue and sites of inflammation
Describe the epidemiology of autoimmune disease:
More frequent in women than men, possible due to oestrogen influencing IS to predispose to the disease
The presence of one autoimmune disease increases the chances of having another
Describe the genetic factors of AID:
There is a strong genetic component (increased prevalence in MZ twins)
Most AIDs are polygenic, inserting many polymorphisms
Strong association of MHC class II genes with disease
Describe the joint mechanism for autoimmunity:
Susceptibility genes lead to a failure in self tolerance and produce self reactive lymphocytes
During an infection/ inflammation in tissues, this leads to tissue APCs being activated so and influx of self-reactive lymphocytes into tissues and so an overload
How can infections possible prevent AID?
Possible if exposed to more antibodies our body is better capable of differentiating between self and non self
How can the induction of co-stimulators cause autoimmunity?
If a microbe attacks an APC with a self antigen, this will cause activation of the APC and express a co-stim molecule and the self antigen to the T cell, therefore fully activating a self reactive T cell and attacks self tissue
How can molecular mimicry cause autoimmunity?
Microbe infects an APC with a microbe antigen, this looks very similar to an APC expressing a self antigen
It then expresses antigen to T cell so causes activation of self reactive T cell
What are 2 factors that contribute to autoimmune damage?
Circulating autoantibodies
T lymphocytes
Describe ways how circulating antibodies cause autoimmune damage:
Complement lysis
Interaction with cell receptors
Toxic immune complexes
Ab dependent cellular cytotoxicity
Penetration into living cells
Describe ways how T lymphocytes cause autoimmune damage:
CD4 cells polaries towards Th1 responses via cytokines (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, T1D)
CD8 cells activated to become cytotoxic T cells and cause direct cytolysis
Describe other non specific ways of autoimmune damage:
Recruitment of inflammatory leucocytes into AI lesions
Name an example of systemic autoimmune diseases:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Name examples of organ specific autoimmune diseases:
Myasthenia gravis
Graves disease
T1D
How can corticosteroids act as anti-inflammatory agents?
Can block TNF and IL1 production
Describe non specific control of autoantibodies:
Infusion of IV immunoglobulin of multiple specificity from a group of healthy donors
Plasmapheresis- remove circulating antibodies, for short term treatment
Describe how a fever can occur:
Macrophage engulfs bacterium by endocytosis which releases endotoxin so macrophage release IL1 in return into the blood stream, which is sent to the hypothalamus which produces prostaglandin, which resets the body thermostat to a higher temperature
Describe the sequence of the acute phase inflammatory response:
- Insult by trauma or pathogen causes acute phase reaction
- Platelet adhesion, transient vasoconstriction of efferent vessels
- Cytokine-induced vasodilation of afferent vessels (increased heat /blood flow to area)
- Activation of complement, coagulation, fibrinolytic and kinin system
- Leukocyte adhesion
- Increase vascular permeability and extravasation of serum proteins (exudate) and leukocytes (→ neutrophils → macrophages → lymphocytes) with resultant tissue swelling
- Phagocytosis of foreign material with pus formation
- Wound healing and remodelling
What cytokines do macrophages release in acute phase reaction?
TNFa
IL1
IL6
Describe the first phase of inflammation:
- Vasodilation, triggered by cell parts, histamine, kinin, prostaglandin and leukotrienes
- Migration and margination= binding of phagocytes to the BV which they then force themselves between the endothelium cells of the BV and migrate into the tissues
How are cytokines involved in promoting inflammation?
Activate immune and other cells in local environment
Recruit immune cells to environment
GFs stimulate immune and non-immune cell growth
Acts as endogenous pyrogens (drive immune response and change overall temp)
Induce acute phase proteins in liver
What are acute phase proteins?
Fluctuate in response to tissue injury and infections
Usually made by hepatocytes
Synthesized in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines
Name 5 acute phase proteins:
C reative protein
Fibrinogen
Serum Amyloid A
Complement factors
Hapatoglobin and ferritin
What is the function of C reactive protein?
Opsonin- labeling pathogens so easier identification
What is the function of Fibrinogen?
Coagulation factors
What is the function of serum amyloid A?
Cell recruitment and MMP inducer
What is the function of complement factors?
Opsonin, lysis, clumping and chemotaxis
Name 5 major pro-inflammatory cytokines:
IL-1
TNFa
IL-12
IL-6
IFN-a/B
What is the function of IL-1?
Vasculature (inflammation)
Hypothalamus (fever)
Liver (induces APP)
What is the function of TNFa?
Vasculature (inflammation)
Liver (induces APP)
Induction of cell death
Neutrophil activation
Cachexia
What is the function of IL-12?
NK cells
Promotes Th1 subset of T cells
What is the function of IL-6?
Liver (induces APP)
Influences adaptive immunity (proliferation and Ab secretion by B cells)
What is the function of IFN a/B?
Induces antiviral state
Activates NK cells
What are the four different families of chemokines?
CC
CXCRs
XCR1
CXXXC
Where do chemokines bind to?
GPCRs
What are the functions of chemokines and give examples:
They are chemotactic (attract cells)
IL-8 (CXCL8) attracts neutrophils
Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 (MCP1/CCL2) attracts monocytes
Eotaxin (CCL11) attracts eosinophils
What are adhesion molecules?
Transmembrane receptors that bind either to other cells or the extra cellular membrane
Allow leucocytes to attach and migrate on endothelial cell layer
What are the four main classes of adhesion molecules and give functions:
Ig superfamily (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, LFA-2)
Cadherins (E,P,N) cell to cell adhesion
Selectins (E,P,L) recognise carbs
Intergrins (8 sub-families e.g a4B1) ECM to cell
What are mettaloproteinases?
Proteases whose catalectic function requires metal, usually zinc
What are the three main families of metalloproteinases and give functions:
MMPs- degrade + remodel ECM, create chemokine gradient
ADAMS- cleave cytokine and adhesion molecule receptors from cell surface
ADAMTS- cleave receptors also, degrade proteoglycans
Name a different types of ECM proteins and their function:
Collagen I,II,III- fibrillar found in bone, skin, cartilage
Collagen IV- basement membrane
Laminin, Elastin, Proteoglycans, Fibronectin- provides layer on top of cells and allows cells to interact with each other
What is the function of NF-kB?
Family of transcription factors that regulate hundreds of pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, MMPs etc
How does NF-kB become activated?
NFkB is bound to IkB (inhibitor of NFkB), it needs to be phosphorylated so NFkB can carry out its action
When DNA damaging agents are present, IkB kinase which are proteins that can phosphorylate IkB, degrade it so NFkB is released and can migrate to the nucleus
It binds to promotor sequences of transcription so drives some pro-inflammatory cytokines
Describe the second phase of inflammation:
- Phagocytes are attracted via chemokines/cytokines
Phagocytes destroy MO and dead/mutated cells - Tissue repair
Name 6 anti-inflammatory mediators produced by the body:
Anti-inflammatory cytokines e.g IL-10
Soluble adhesion molecules
TIMPs- inhibit MMPs
Plasmin activation system- clot recedes
Opioid peptides- counteract pain
Resolvins/ protectins- anti-inflammatory lipid mediators
What are the two types of inflammation?
Acute
Chronic
What does DMARDs stand for?
Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs
Give examples of some DMARDs:
Methotrexate
Sulfasalazine
Gold compounds
Penicillamine
Chloroquine
What is the benefit of using DMARDS over NSAIDS?
NSAIDS only reduce the symptoms, but DMARDs aim to halt or reverse the underlying disease
Describe the brief way how methotrexate works:
A folic acid antagonist with cytotoxic and immunosuppressant activity
Why does methotrexate need to be monitored closely?
Bone marrow depression
Drop in white cell and platelet counts (fatal)
Liver cirrhosis
What are folates essential for in the body?
The synthesis of purine nucleotides and thymidylate, which in turn are essential for DNA synthesis and cell division
How do folate antagonists work?
Interfere with thymidylate synthesis
Methotrexate does this