module 09 section 01 (hypersensitivity reactions) Flashcards
define “hypersensitivity reaction”
what can result from this?
- an innapropriately exaggerated immune response causing deleterious effects,
- can result in significant tissue injury, serious disease, or death
when can a reaction be termed hypersensitive?
if it is either heightened or innapropriate in response to an antigen
what is the Gell-coombs classification system?
system that categorizes hypersensitivity reactions into 4 pathophysiological types
what are type I Gell-coombs hypersensitivity reactions?
specific antibody-mediated reaction
can type I Gell-coombs hypersensitivity reactions develop into anaphylactic responses?
yes
what is an anaphylactic response?
an allergic reaction that happens immediately and causes a life-threatening response involving the entire body
type I Gell-coombs hypersensitivity reactions occur due to the actions of:
- IgE on mast cells binds an allergen, resulting in mast cell degranulation
- C3a, C4a and C5a can also cause this type of reaction
recall that type I hypersensitivity reactions are the immediate response to an allergen. Most of these allergens are:
enzymes or glycoproteins
list 4 typcial allergens for type I hypersensitivity reactions
(1) glycoproteins Fel d 1 and Fel d 4 (common in cats)
(2) glycoprotein Fra a 1 (found in strawberries)
(3) enzyme hyaluronidase (found in honeybee venom)
(4) enzyme Der p 1 (found in feces of dust mites)
sensitization for type I hypersensitivity reactions may occur via:
(4)
- oral ingestion
- respiratory inhalation
- skin absorbtion
- intravenous (IV)
are type I hypersensitivity reactions T-cell dependent?
yes
explain the mechanism of type I hypersensitivity reactions
(1) APCs present the processed antigen to Th2 cells
- activated Th2 cells secrete IL-4 and IL-13 which induce naive B-cells to undergo class swithcing from IgM to IgG1 to IgE-secreting B-cells
(2) secreted IgE binds FcE (epsilon) receptor on mast cells
- allergen cross links two IgE antibodies bound to mast cells - resulting in mast cell degranulation
(3) mast cell degranulation results in release of mediators, including vasoactive amines - which elict biological effects within minutes
recall: during type I hypersensitivity reactions, activated mast cells release preformed molecules. What are they and what are the effects of these? (4)
(1) histamine - promotes vascular permeability and sm contraction
(2) eosinophil chemotactic factor - attracts eosinophils
(3) neutrophil chemotactic factor - attacts polymorphic nuclear cells such as mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils
(4) proteases - increase mucus secretion and cause basement membrane damage (especially in the lungs)
do the preformed molecules secreted by mast cells cause early or late phase biological effects?
early phase
recall: during type I hypersensitivity reactions, activated mast cells synthesize new vasoactive amines. What are they and what are the effects of these? (4)
(1) platelet-activation factor - promotes aggregation of platelets, further mast cells degranulation and sm contraction
(2) leukotrienes - promote sm contraction and increase vascular permeability
(3) prostaglandins - promote sm contraction and vasodilation
(4) bradykinin - promotes sm contraction and vascular permeability (also involved in many pain pathways)
do the vasoactive amines secreted by mast cells cause early or late phase biological effects?
late phase
what are the overall effects of mediators (released by mast cells in type I hypersensitivity reactions) on bvs?
- vasodilation and increased permeability = edema (excess of fluid collecting in cavities or tissues)
- loss of fluid in the tissues can lead to anaphylactic shock
what are the overall effects of mediators (released by mast cells in type I hypersensitivity reactions) on skin?
vasodilation and edema = urticaria (hives) or eczema
what are the overall effects of mediators (released by mast cells in type I hypersensitivity reactions) on the nose/eyes?
vasodilation and increased permeability = edema, which can manifest as rhinitis and conjunctivitis
what are the clinical manifestations of type I hypersensitivity reactions? (3)
(1) atopy - predisposition to developing an allergic rxn
(2) asthma - condition where airways narrow and swell
(3) larygneal edema - characterized by swelling of the larynx
explain what atopy is in more detail.
- it’s an exaggerated IgE-mediated immune response to an environmental allergen
- it’s an inherited conditon with genetic assoication to HLA
- can lead to asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis
what are two hallmarks of an asthmatic reaction?
inflammation and obstructed airways
what are key pathological features of asthma? (2)
- increased recruitment of inflammatory cells (neutrophils and eosinophils)
- increased recruitment of mast cells, leading to high levels of histamine
can asthma be atopic or non-atopic? why?
can be both:
- atopic asthma (aka extrinstic asthma) = mediated by systemic IgE production in response to an allergen
- non-atopic asthma (aka intrinsic asthma) = mediated by localized IgE production but doesn’t occur in response to an allergen
recall that laryngeal edema is life-threatening swelling of the larynx. What is this edema primarily characterized by? (1)
- inspiratory stridor: high-pitched breathing sound that results from turbulent air flow in the larynx
- present in both inspiration and expiration but louder/longer during inspiration
laryngeal edema is also associated with feelings of ____, due to ____?
anxiety - due to fear of not being able to breathe
what are additional symptoms of laryngeal edema? why?
- intestinal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, uterine contractions and cramps
- due to contraction effects and constrictor effects (due to tissue swelling) of type I reactions
what is a common diagnostic test for type I hypersensitivity reactions? what does it measure? when do results occur?
- skin prick tests - measure the presence of IgE antibodies against suspected and common allergens (same as for typical allergy)
- positive reaction typically occurs within 1-20 minutes (manifests as small red swelling)
what are type II Gell-coombs hypersensitivity reactions?
these are mediated by an antibody directed against cell surface antigens
(i.e., involves antibody-mediated destruction of cells presenting allergens on their surface)
what is another term for type II Gell-coombs hypersensitivity reactions?
cytotoxic or costimulatory hypersensitivity
what results from type II Gell-coombs hypersensitivity reactions?
complement-mediated lysis OR cytotoxic action by NK cells
recall that for type II sensitivity reactions, antigen-specific antibodies bind to a cell surface antigen and destroy the cell. Cell death can occur by one of three mechanisms, what are they?
(1) complement-mediated cell lysis
(2) phagocytosis
(3) antibody-independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)
when are type II hypersensitivity reactions implicated in the clinical setting?
autoimmune diseases - where the target cells are the host’s own rbc’s
explain phagocytosis with respect to type II hypersensitivity reactions
- antigen specific antibodies bind to the cell surface antigen via the Fab region
- phagocytic cells have Fc receptors that that can bind to the Fc region of the antibody, cross-linking the antigen with phagocytic cells to enhance the process of phagocytosis
- if complement’s activated, it promotes C3b on target cell surface to bind C3b recetpor on phagocytes for enhanced phagocytosis
explain ADCC with respect to type II hypersensitivity reactions
- antigen specific antibody binds the antigen via the Fab region
- cytotoxic cells have CD16 (FcyR) that binds to the Fc region of the antibody
- corsslinking btwn target cell and cytotoxic cell promotes killing due to the release of hydrolytic and digestive enzymes from the cytotoxic cells to the surface of the target cells
- i.e. antibody doesnt directly kill cell - mediates cell death by presenting antigen to cytotoxic cells
explain complement activation with respect to type II hypersensitivity reactions
Ag-Ab complex can acitvate the complement system which ultimately results in cell lysis through the MAC
list 4 clinical presenations of type II hypersensitivity reactions
(1) hemolytic anemia: conditon where immune system recognizes own rbcs as foreign
(2) bullous pemphigus: autoimmune skin disease resulting in formation of blisters (bullae) in space btwn epidermis and dermis
(3) transfusion rxns: adverse reactions to allogenic rbcs following tranfusion rxns
(4) Rh disease: hemolytic condition where maternal and fetal blood are not compatible
hemolytic anemia is a group of blood disorders characterized by: (3)
fatigue, dyspnea (shortness of breath) and pallor (pale)
what do the symptoms of hemolytic anemia result from?
lysis of rbcs due to antibodies against the individuals rbcs (which consequently decreases the # of o2 carrying rbcs in circualtion)
do immune cells in hemolytic anemia also attack allogenic rbcs that come from outside the individual (blood transfusion)?
yes
explain Rh disease
develops when maternal IgG antibody specific to the Rh-D allele crisses the placenta and destroys fetal rbcs by binding Rh-D and activating complement
i.e., if mom is RhD- and fetus is RhD+, her immune system creates anti-RhD antibodies that attack fetal RhD+