Lecture 22 - Type 2 hypersensitivity Flashcards
What best describes a type 2 hypersensitivity?
Cytotoxic type
IgG/IgM mediated. Binds to a self antigen on a cell and causes destruction of that cell.
Learning Objective 1
List the components of the Type II reaction and describe their role in a Type II hypersensitivity reaction. Highlight the antibody that most commonly mediates this reaction.
Antibody binds to a self cell or cell matrix.
The typical isotype is IgG. Can be IgM in the case of blood transfusions.
What is the major difference between type 2 and type 3 hypersensitivities?
In type 2, antibodies bind to cells or cell matrix (not a soluble antigen).
In type 3, antibodies bind to soluble antigens.
Name a few examples of type 2 hypersensitivities.
Pemphigus foliaceous
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic disease of the newborn
Blood transfusion reactions
Myasthenia gravis
This is a type 2 hypersensitivity reaction. What disease do you suspect?
Pemphigus foliaceous
Learning Objective 2
Describe how cellular targets are destroyed in type 2 hypersensitivities. Compare and contrast to other killing mechanisms discussed.
The same mechanisms used to kill pathoges, but antibodies are directed against self cells and matrices.
- Complement fixation and MAC formation leading to cell lysis
- Phagocytosis
- Antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by NK cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Release of granule contents.
- NK cells initiating apoptosis through activation of the caspase cascade.
What clinical signs would you expect in an animal that is producing IgG against its own erythrocytes?
Anemia from lack of erythrocytes
Jaundice from lysed RBCs
How does acquired myasthenia gravis cause disease?
Body produces auto-antibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChR), which block the receptor. Act as receptor antagonists.
ACh signaling cannot occur, resulting in muscle weakness that worsens with exercise. Pelvic limbs are often most affected.
Can cause megaesophagus.
How does the Tensilon test work in testing for myasthenia gravis?
In myasthenia gravis, autoantibodies inhibit the function of acetylcholine receptors.
Tensilon is an acetycholinesterase inhibitor. ACh secreted into the synaptic cleft will hang around longer when Tensilon is administered.
The animal will temporarily lose the symptoms of muscle weakness until the Tensilon wears off.
Which complement pathway would you expect to be activated by binding of auto-antibodies in Pemphigus Foliaceous?
Classical pathway
Which complement components are chemotactic for neutrophils and eosinophils?
C3a
C5a
What molecules do antibodies attack in the disease pemphigus foliaceous?
An inter-epidermal cell adhesion molecule
(probably desmoglein)
What techniques could you use to test for pemphigus foliaceous?
Immunofluorescence
Immunohistochemistry
(might be a good idea to practice drawing these)
Describe intravascular and extravascular hemolysis
Intravascular - Occurs in the blood stream. Complement fixation and cellular lysis.
Extravascular - Occurs in the spleen and liver. Opsonization and phagocytosis.
Which auto-antibody isotype to RBCs would carry a worse prognosis: IgG or IgM?
IgM
IgM can fix complement through binding of a single antibody to its antigen. This can quickly result in intravascular hemolysis.
Describe the Coomb’s test for detecting auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in a dog.
- Take a blood sample from the dog.
- Add anti-dog IgG (Coomb’s reagent) to the blood.
- If agglutination occurs, this suggests that IgG was present on the dog’s RBCs.
What kinds of molecules are red blood cell antigens?
Glycoproteins and glycolipids
Learning Objective 3
Define natural antibodies.
Antibodies against foreign antigens found in an animal’s serum that are present even though the animal has never been exposed to that antigen.
IgM isotype
Why are O blood type humans considered the universal donors?
O-type RBCs do not have antigens on their cell surface. Thus, they will not react with natural antibodies present in the blood recipient.
If a human has type A blood (like Greg!), what kind of natural antibodies will be present in the serum?
Anti-B antibodies
Does hypersensitivity to blood transfusions require a sensitization period (like in type 1 hypersensitivities) if natural antibodies are present?
Nope.
If natural antibodies are present in the serum, they will react immediately to transfused blood of a foreign antigen type. This is why it is important to blood type a blood recipient and cross-match donor blood with patient serum.
You have an exotic cat with type B blood. What would be the major concern with administering type A blood into this cat?
Type B cats have a strong hemolysin natural antibody against type A blood.
Administering A blood into a B cat will result in rapid hemolysis, shock, and death.
What is the difference between acquired antibody and natural antibody?
Natural antibody is present in an animal’s serum withouth the animal ever having been exposed to that antigen. (They probably form as a result of immune system interactions with bacteria with similar antigens).
Acquired antibodies are formed after primary immune responses resulting from contact with an antigen.
Learning Objective 4
Define cross match and blood typing and explain the tests used to determine each.
Blood typing is used to determine the antigen type on the RBCs of an animal. Adding antibody against the antigen type will cause the cells to visibly agglutinate.
Cross matching insures that donor blood is compatible with recipient serum. Mix donor RBCs with patient serum. If hemolysis occurs, the two are incompatible.
