MSK; Lecture 4, 5 and 6 - Pathogenesis of AI disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis/Reactive arthritis Flashcards
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic joint inflammation that can result in joint damage (permanent) -> synovium is inflammed; associated with autoantibodies
Which autoantibodies are associated with rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
Chronic spinal inflammation that can result in spinal fusion and deformity -> chronic back pain from enthesis (site of inflammation - junction between intervertebral disc and vertebrae); no autoantibodies.
What are seronegative spondyloarthropathies?
Ankylosing spondylitis; reiters syndrome and reactive arthritis. Arthritis associated with psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis)/GI inflammation (IBS - enteropathic synovitis)
What are the signs of the patient with ankylosing spondylitis?
Excessive thoracic kyphosis; no lordosis in lumbar spine and hyperextension of neck -> spine moves as a block
What is SLE?
Chronic tissue inflammation in presence of Ab direted against self-Ag; multi-site inflammation, particularly joints, skin and kidneys -> excessive immune complexes which deposit in tissues, but have low complement levels Associated with autoAb
Which autoAb is SLE associated with?
Antinuclear Ab and anti-double stranded DNA ab
What are the different connective tissue diseases?
Systemic lupus erythematosus Inflammatory muscle disease: polymyositis, dermatomyositis Systemic sclerosis Sjogren’s syndrome A mixture of the above: ‘Overlap syndromes’
Which HLA molecules are associated with rheumatoid arthritis, SLE and ankylosing spondylitis?
RA = HLA-DR4 (class II) SLE = HLA-DR3 (class II) AS = HLA-B27 (class I)
What is the importance of the MHC being class I or II?
- Presents ag to T-cells.
- Pathogenesis of HLA-associated disease -> due to a peptide antigen (exogenous or self) that is able to bind to HLA molecule and trigger disease (‘arthritogenic antigen’)
What are the overall autoantibodies used in rheumatology (RA, SLE, osteoarthritis, reactive arthritis, gout, AS, systemic vasculitis)?
What are the autoantibodies in diffuse/limited systemic sclerosis, dermato-polymitosis, sjogren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease?
What are the autoantibodies of SLE?
NB: antinuclear antibodies do not enter the nucleus/cell; the nuclear antigens are presented by the cell via HLA receptor (e.g.)
What are antinuclear antibodies reacting to?
If ANA is positive the clinical laboratory will perform further tests to determine which type of ANA it is – typically these include screening for: Anti-Ro Anti-La Anti-centromere Anti-Sm Anti-RNP Anti-ds-DNA antibodies Anti-Scl-70 Cytoplasmic antibodies include: Anti-tRNA synthetase antibodies Anti-ribosomal P antibodies
How is the disease activity of SLE worked out?
Sick lupus patients have low complement levels and high levels of anti-ds-DNA Ab, which cycles
What are the cytokines used in rheumatology and what are their effects?
TNF-a is very beneficial as it is the main inflammatory mediator, so by inhibiting it helps greatly reduce the inflammation
How does TNF-a act in rheumatoid arthritis?
TNF-a is very beneficial as it is the main inflammatory mediator, so by inhibiting it helps greatly reduce the inflammation -> reduces cartilage damage and joint inflammation
What other cytokine inhibitors are present in clinic for rheumatoid conditions?
IL-6 and IL-1 blockade are now available in clinic; can also deplete B cells in rheumatoid arthritis by parenteral admin of Ab against CD20
How is RANKL used in rheumatology?
How can B cells inhibitors be used to treat SLE?
How are prostaglandins used in rheumatology?
See them as anti-iinflammatory and analgesic -> don’t modify joint destruction, just manages the pain not stopping the disease
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic AI disease characterised by pain, joint stiffness and SYMMETRICAL synovitis of synovial joints (needs to be on both sides of body)
What are the environmental/genetic components of rheumatoid arthritis?