Module 9: Autoimmune Disease

Question 1

Autoimmunity

Answer 1

immune response that the body produces against its own cells or tissues

Question 2

2 main factors of developing autoimmunity

Answer 2

inheritance of susceptible genes

Environmental trigger

Question 3

other factors contributing to autoimmunity

Answer 3

Anatomic alterations
Hormonal influences
Defect in T regulatory cells

Question 4

Central tolerance

Answer 4

immunological tolerance that develops int he thymus and bone marrow

As B and T cells mature, they are exposed to self antigens
Cells with high affinity to self antigens are removed

Question 5

Negative selection

Answer 5

removal of B and T cells that have a high affinity to self antigens

Question 6

Receptor editing

Answer 6

B cells may change specificity of their Ig receptor so that they will no longer recognize self antigens

Question 7

T cells that recognize self antigens may develop into

Answer 7

T regulatory cells which enter peripheral tissues

Question 8

Peripheral Tolerance

Answer 8

If B and T cells escape central tolerance, they are removed by:
Anergy
Deletion (cell death)
Suppression

Question 9

Anergy

Answer 9

Inactivity or lymphs even though antigen is present
This is done by:
-Signaling by the TCR complex is blocked
-Inhibitory signals are relieved resulting in anergic T cells

Question 10

Deletion (cell death)

Answer 10

occurs when T lymphs are activated by self antigen
This is done by:
-apoptosis
-death receptors are engaged (leads to apoptosis)

Question 11

Suppression

Answer 11

occurs when self reactive T lymph develops into reg cells (function to suppress other self-reactive lymphocytes)

Reg T cells:

• produce inhibitory cytokines
• Block B7 on APC
• Bind IL2