Lecture 27: Hypersensitivity and autoimmunity Flashcards
How can hypersensitivity be classified and what are the mediators?
Type One: IgE mediated (Allergic or anaphylactic)
Type Two: IgG, Antibody mediated (Cytotoxic)
Type Three: IgG, Immune complex mediated
Type Four: T cell mediated (DTH - delayed - type)
Describe the concentration of IgE in the general population and atopic persons:
Everyone has varying degrees of circulating IgE antibody and in some people this causes allergy. However, most allergic people have very high levels of IgE whilst the general population have lower levels.
Describe why IgE is heavily involved in hypersensitivity reactions: What does degranulation of mast cells lead to?
IgE Fc region STRONGLY (high affinity) binds FcR on mast cells and stimulates degranulation. Allergen can then cross link the IgE bound to mast cells and enhance this process further.
Degranulation leads to:
- Chemoattractants
- Activators; Vasodilation, complement, platelets
- Spasmogens; SM contraction, mucus secretion
What are the common causes of allergies related to:
- Rhinitis
- Insect stings
- Foods
- Small molecules
Rhinitis (Upper respiratory)
- House dust mite (Dus mite dander)
- Pollens
- Animal dander
Insect stings
- Proteins in venom
- Anaphylaxis is common
Food allergies
- Wheat protein
- Milk proteins
- Peanuts
- Strawberries
Small molecules
- Penicillin
- Codiene
- Morphine
What are the common types of respiratory tract allergies?
- Allergic rhinitis (Hay fever)
- Sinusitis (Inflamed nasal sinuses)
- Conjunctivitis
- Asthma (Allergic component)
What are some common types of skin, gut and multiple organ allergies?
Skin:
- Urticaria
- Angioedema
Gut:
- Food allergy
Multiple organs
- Anaphylaxis
How can allergies be treated? 5 examples
Avoidance
Antihistamines (esp. mild forms)
Corticosteroids (Chronic forms i.e asthma)
Sodium cromoglycate (Stablises mast cells)
Sympathomimetics (Adrenalin)
Whats a new method of allergy treatment / cure?
Desensitisation: Gradually increasing doses of allergen to induce high affinity IgG antibodies (Compete with IgE for allergen)
Describe type two hypersensitivity:
Antibodies against cell surface antigens.
- Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
- Complement activation
- Frustrated phagocytosis
What is frustrated phagocytosis in T2 hypersensitivity?
A phagocyte i.e neutrophil recognises i.e C3B bound to cell in tissue (not bacteria) and cant phagocytose so it release vacuole contents = cell damage
Describe how T2 hypersensitivity can be organ specific:
T2 hypersensitivity can underpin organ specific auto-immunity i.e
Haemolytic disease of newborn
= Anti RhD red cell IgG antibodies
Describe type 3 hypersensitivity:
High levels of antibody develop because of high antigen concentrations, but after antigens are gone these levels remain high. This can result in:
Immune complex (I.e compliment, AB, platelets) mediated ; Vasculitis, nephritis, pneumonitis
Reaction all kicked off by excess immune complexes
Can lead to microthrombus formation and neutrophil activation
Describe how in T3 hypersensitivity vasculitis takes place:
- Deposition of immune complex and platelet aggregation leads to microthrombus formation.
- This can lead to activation of compliment system and thus neutrophils.
- Chemotaxis of activated neutrophils migrates them to microthrombus and leads to vascular damage as they release their vacuole contents
Whats a clinical example of T3 hypersenstivity?
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (Hypersensitivity pneuomonitis)
Write some notes on extrinsic allergic alveolitis:
- Circulating antibodies against inhaled antigens
- i.e Farmers lung (mouldy hay)
- Immune complex formation in alveoli
- Compliment mediated and neutrophil mediated lung function compromised