Midterm 2 Flashcards
How does undernourishment modify the immune system?
Insufficient energy to generate effective immunity -> more prone to microbial infections
How does overnourishment modify the immune system?
Creates an impaired or overractive immune system -> more prone to microbial infections, excess inflammation
What part of the innate immune system is impact the most by Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM)?
The innate immune system (reduces epithelial and physiological barriers; reduces function of neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells)
Which common micronutrient deficit causes the following:
- Decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFalpha/IL6)
- Inhibits T cell proliferation
- Diminishes Thymic function
Iron deficiency
How can an iron overload be bad?
Iron is essential for bacterial, protozoal, and viral infections (known as the host-pathogen battle for iron)
What is the role of iron in bacteria, viruses, and protozoa?
- Bacteria- iron genes concentrated in high-pathogenic regions
- Viruses- high iron status promotes HIV progression
- Protozoa- Malaria-induced redistribution promotes bacterial co-infections
How does a Vitamin A deficiency impact the immune system?
- Skews the immune system towards Th1 response (reduces Th2)
- Increases mortality and morbidity (can reverse with supplementation)
How does obesity impact the immune system?
Causes low grade chronic inflammation, alters T cell subsets (increases TNF-alpha), enhances thymic aging
What infection risks are elevated in obese patients?
- Secondary infections
- Surgical site infections and wound complications
- Pulmoary aspiration and community-related RTIs
- Risk for influzena related death
- Peridontal infections
Why do obese patients have an elevated risk of death from influenza?
- Response to influenza requires functioning DC, CD4, and CD8 T cells
- In obese patients, all of these inflammatory markers decrease after respiratory infection (elevated before)
Why don’t doctors vaccinate infants when they are very young (less than 1 week)?
Because the maternal antibodies can interrupt with B cell stimulation
Why are many immune deficiencies not recognized until after the first few months of life?
Because maternal IgG antibodies make up for the lack of response in the infant
Why is the cell-mediated immunity in neonates atypical?
Because the innate immune cells do not produce IL12, the Th1 response is prevented (and Th2/Th17 prevail)
Why is B cell class switching and CD8 T cell levels decreased in neonates?
Because ofthe deficiency in co-stimulatory molcules (T helpers) in first few months of life
At what age do lymphocyte numbers and serum IgG/IgM reach “adult levels”?
Age 6
What T cell imbalance exists in elderly people?
There is an over-representation of effector/memory T cells vs. naive T cells
What are the effects of old age on T helper cells and B cells?
- There is a defect in the function of CD4+ T cells upon antigen stimulation
- There is a decrease in B cell lymphopoesis and a general reduction in the quantity/quality antibody response
What is the effects of old age on the innate immune system?
- Macrophages reduce expression of MHC II
- Impairs the function of neutrophils and NK cells
- TLR signaling pathways can be reduced
Chonric low-grade inflammation _____ (inc/dec) with age?
Increases!
What is the definition of vaccine?
A substance designed to induce potent and protective immune response, by exposing the host to antigenic (non-pathogenic) material
What is the difference between active and passive immunity?
- Active- body’s response to a potential pathogen, hopefully leading to long-term protective response
- Passive- created via transfer of pre-formed antibodies to an individual (short-lived)
When is passive immunization useful?
- When immediate protection is needed
- When host is unable to produce an adquate immune response
- When no safe or effective vaccine is available
What is pneumocephalus?
Air in the skull
What is the difference between rabies immune globulin (RIG) and rabies vaccine?
- Rig provides passive immunity (now)
- Rabies provides active immunity (later)
- Both would be provided to the patient in the event of an animal bite
Why is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) treated with passive immunization?
Because it can cause chronic lung disease and there is no safe or effective vaccine (monoclonal antibody preparation is available)
What are some commune situations in which passive immunization is used?
- Protection against toxins (tetanus, botulism, diptheria, snake venom)
- Use of Rho-Gam (pregnancy)
- Sever deficiencies of the humoral immune system (IVig)
- Directed against specific viral antigens (HepA, CMV, rabies, RSV)
- Various infections for autoimmune diseases
What is a common immunization now used during pregnancy (for of passive immunity)?
Pertussis, because it can prevent whooping cough!
What is the difference between inactivated and attenuated vaccines for bacteria/viruses?
- Inactivated- grow large number of bacteria/virus and kill using heat or chemical fixation
- Attenuated, live- repeated passages through cell culture until non-virulent organism is isolated
What is the benefit of inativated bacterial and viral vaccines?
- Inactivated bacterial vaccines provide limited, short-lived protection and are not used in the US
- Inactivated viral vaccines produce some protection and include influenza, rabies, polio
What is the benefit of attenuated viral and bacterial vaccines?
- Attenuated bacterial vaccines are rarely used
- Attenuated viral vaccines can generate effective, long-term protection (sometimes need boosters)
What are the common live, attenuated viral vaccines?
- Measels, Mumps, Rubella
- Chickenpox
- Rotavirus
- Live influenza vaccine (oral)
Why are some vaccines a concern for patients with immune deficiency?
Because some vaccines contain live organisms
What is the usefulness of toxoids and purified polysaccharide antigens?
- Toxoids- very effective immunogens, inactivated toxins (diptheria, tetanus)
- PPA- not longterm effective, used in conjugate vaccines, very safe
- Both of these have a short shelf-life and fail to stimulate the CTL because they are recognized as exogenous antigens
What are sythetic/recombinant antigen vaccines?
Active part is synthesized protein/AA (Hep B)
What are the advantages/disadvantages of combination vaccines (polyvalent)?
- Advantage- reduction in the number of injections
- Disadvantage- not all vaccines can be combined (interference with immune response)
What are the components of a vaccine?
- Adjuvants- added to improve/stimulate immune response (aluminum salts)
- Diluent- water/saline
- Stabilizers- maintain vaccine potency
- Antibiotics
- Preservatives (thermosal)
What are 2 principles that increase the effectiveness of a vaccine?
- Microorganisms are invariant in their surface structures
- Limited to human hosts (no animal reservoirs)
What is the only immunization given on day 1?
Hepatitis B
What is herd immunity?
Large percentage of individuals in community are immunized:
- Microorganism has difficulty surviving
- Low probability that unimmunized individual will contact pathogen
What are the 3 most common reactions to vaccines?
- Local reactions
- Mild systemic reactions
- Allergic reactions
What is a primary immunodeficiency?
A genetic mutation that may occur at any phase of the immune response (most present in childhood)
What are the most common forms of primary immune deficiency (PID)?
Humoral (B cell) immune deficiencies
What 4 questions do you need to ask to diagnose immune deficiency?
- Is there enough B cells, T cells, and complement?
- Do the cells work?
- How about innate cells (PMNs, macrophage)?
- Can cells travel where they need to go?
What are the common signs/symptoms of humoral/antibody defects?
- Pyogenic Infections (sinusitis, pneumonia, cellulitis, meningitis)
- Frequent viral infections
- Chronic Diarrhea
*Pyogenic= causes local purulent*
How many infections are to many in adults/children?
- Children- 4 courses of antibotics per year
- Adults- 2 courses of antibiotics per year
- Pneumonia twice over any time is concerning
What disease is associated with a defect in germinal centers?
(XLA) X-linked agammaglobulinemias
What is the most common primary immunodeficiency?
IgA deficiency (1:500) (usually asymptomatic)
Why is it dangerous for patients with severe IgA deficiency to receive IVigA?
Because they might have antibodies for IgA (no IgA in body normally) and can end up in anaphylaxis
What is the second most common immunodeficiency (and most common symptomic immunodeficiency)?
(CVID) Common Variable Immunodeficiency
What humoral immune deficiency has normal antibody, B cell, and T cell numbers?
Specific Antibody Deficiency (impaired vaccine response)
What are the classic encapsulated organisms? (Some Killers Have Pretty Nice Capsules)
- Streptococcus pnemoniae & pyogenes
- Staph aureus
- Klebsiella
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Crytococcus neoformans
What immune deficit has low IgG (but normal specific antibodies) and usually resolves by age 4?
Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia of Infancy
What is the standard order of evaluations for humoral immune system diagnosis?
- CBC with differential
- Age-adjusted quantitative immunoglobulins
- Specific antibody titers
- Complement pathway (functional assay)
- Lymphocyte markers (B cell)
How do you test the specific antibody production of a patient?
Use a vaccine booster to see secondary response a few months later (if no big response, that means there is no antibody response)
How can disorders with T cells impact humoral immune system?
Causes problems with Ig synthesis (need T helper cells)
Often called combined immunodeficiencies
What are the signs/symptoms of T cell dysfunction?
- Failure to thrive
- Anergy to recall antigens
- Graft vs. host disease (eczema)
- Increased B cell malignancies
- Eosinophelia, thrombocytopenia
- Thrush
What rare disease (ID) is associated with the following symptoms?
- Eczema
- Thrombocytopenia with small platelets
Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome (problem with actin polymerization)
What is order of diagnostic evaluations for combined immunodeficiencies (T cell)?
- CBC with differential
- Age-adjusted quantitative immunoglobulins
- Specific Antibody Titers
- Lymphocyte Markers (all)
- Lymphocyte mitogen proliferation assays
- Antigen reactivity (candida, tetanus)
- DTH to candida
- Nucleic acid enzyme assays (AICDA)
What ID is characterized by recurrent soft tissue infections with no pus formation?
Hint: Innate immune system
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency-1 (LAD-1) because neutrophils cannot migrate or adhere
What diagnostic tests should you consider for defects of innate immunity?
- CBC with differential
- Neutrophil function (NBT, chemotaxis, Leukocyte phenotypes)
- Assays for complement (AH50, CH50, MBL)
What PID is associated with onset of birth to 3 months?
- Phagocytic cell defects
- Complement defects
- DiGeorge syndrome
What PID is associated with onset of 3-6 months?
- Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
What PID is associated with onset of 6-18 months?
- X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
- Transient hypogammaglobulinemia
What PID is associated with onset of 18 months-adulthood?
- Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
- Complement Defects
What Physical Examination observations should you examine for PID?
- Growth measurements
- Inspection of tonsils
- Thrush? (in adults)
- Palpation of lymph nodes
- Organomegaly
- Skin lesions
What are some common treatments for humoral/antibody deficiency?
- Avoidance of high rate exposure to infection
- Antibiotic therapy
- IV or SQ IgG
What are some common treatments for combined immunodeficiency?
- Stem Cell transplantation
- Enzyme replacement
- Thymic transplant (DiGeorge)
- Gene Therapy (ADA, XL-SCID)
- IVIG
- Avoidance of live viral vaccines
- Irradiation of blood products
- Phrophylactic antibiotics
What are some common treatments for defects of phagocytic cells?
- Prophylactic antibiotics
- Gamma intereferon in CGD
- Bone marrow transplants (some patients)
What are some common treatments for complement immunodeficiency?
- Symptomatic care
- Frequent use of antibiotics
- Immunizations with bacterial polysacccharide vaccines
What is acquired immunodeficiency?
Defects in immune system not arising from genetic abnormalities (from infection, nutritional deficits, medical condition/treatment, external stimuli)
How does biochemical homeostasis cause acquired immunodeficiency and what are 3 examples?
Disorders cause chronic imbalance of hormones, nutrients, and toxic metabolic waste products
- Diabetes mellitus
- Dialysis and uremia
- Cirrhosis
How does diabetes mellitus impact immune system?
- Decreased neutrophil function (related to high blood glucose)
- Poor peripheral circulation
- Can lead to disseminated candidiasis
What are the immune risks with 2 types of dialysis?
- Hemodialysis- redued T cell function & Ig production, compromised neutrophil and dendritic function
- CAPD- changes in peritoneum and removal of opsonic factors
- General presence of foreign body (catheter) increases risk of infection
What are the immune impacts of cirrhosis?
- Risk for bacterial sepsis and peritonitis
- Higher endogenous glucocorticoids
- Low complement (made in liver)
What are some of the main causes of protein loss?
- Nephrotic syndrome (kidneys, urine)
- Protein losing enteropathies (GI tract, stool)
- Severe dermatitis (skin)
- Peritoneal dialysis
Why is IgM levels near normal, but IgA and IgG low in disorders of protein loss?
IgM is too big for the body to lose it!
How do you determine if IgG levels are low due to protein loss or low B cell/decreased production?
- Urinalysis (check for protein in urine)
- IVIG- know the half lift of Ig and check for presence at time points!
How does trauma cause ID?
Depends on the degree of tissue injury, but massive release of inflammatory cytokines due to activation of monocytes/macrophages (due to necrosis)
Why is burn trauma worse than mechanical trauma?
It has a greater immune suppression effect, disrupts nonspecific defense (skin) and results in increased loss of fluids/proteins
How does ionizing radiation impact the immune system?
- Damages DNA->impair cell division->impair immune function
- May induce apoptosis
- Dose-dependent decline in CBC (B cells impacted more!)
- Primary antibody responses diminished
- Nodes and spleen affected (homing and recirculation)
Why is the spleen such a key player in getting rid of encapsulated bacteria?
The macrophages in the marginal zone of the spleen are the best at taking out encapsulated bacteria that have been opsonized
What are some possible etiologies of splenectomy/hypospenism?
- Congenital asplenia
- Post spenectomy (trauma)
- Atrophy/non-functional spleen (sickle cell)
Why is immune system reduced during pregnancy?
Depressed cellular immunity is a “survival benefit” for the fetus
What cell populations does stress typically effect?
- Natural killer cells (reduced activity)
- Lymphocytes (reduced mitogen responses)
What are the immune alterations induced by measles?
- Superinfections with respiratory viruses are common (Staph. aureus or pnemonia)
- T cell lymphopenia
- Dimished T cell proliferation (in vitro)
- Diminished antibody production
- Measles is a direct infection of T cells and dendritic cells
What immune alterations are induced by herpes viruses?
Transient depression of cell-mediated immunity (especially noted with CMV)
How extreme is the immune suppression by protozoan infection?
More extreme than infection by any other class of microbe (excluding HIV)
- Decreased cell-mediated immunity (malaria)
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Delayed graft rejection
- High rate of various malignancies
What are the immune alterations induced by superantigens?
- Can cause immune suppression
- Initial stimulation, followed by T cell decrease (number and activity)
- Neutrophil function is also decreased
What are the diagnostic assays for infectious disease (low -> high sensitivty)
- Light Microscopy
- Cell Culture (and viral)
- Immunoassays
- Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs)
What is the problem with viral cultures?
Requires eukaryotic host cells and is more labor, expertise, time and money intensive!