Pathogenesis of autoimmune disease Flashcards
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic joint inflammation in the synovium that can result in joint damage
What are the main autoantibodies of rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid factor
Anti-cyclin citrullinated peptide (Anti CCP antibodis0
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
Chronic spinal inflammation in the enthesis that can result in spinal fusion and deformity
What is the enthesis?
Where a ligament inserts to the bone
How does ankylosing spondylitis tend to present?
Spontaneously but it’s associated with a strong genetic predisposition
Where are enthuse found in the spine?
Between the vertebrae- in the annulus fibrosis, entheses join it to the bone above and bone below
What is the normal structure of an intervertebral disc?
They have a soft nucleus pulpous and tough fibrous annulus fibrosus around the outside
What can the inflammation between the vertebral bodies lead to if untreated?
Calcified fusion of the vertebrae
What are ankylosing spondylitis cases often referred to as?
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Why are they seronegative?
There are no autoantibodies
What is systemic lupous erythematous (SLE)
Chronic tissue inflammation (of sterile tissue- not infected) in the presence of auto-antibodies
How do the autoantibodies lead to inflammation in SLE?
They activate the complement via the classical pathway- inflammatory cells have Fc receptors so if autoantibodies are mobilised on these, you can trigger inflammation
Why do you see widespread inflammation in SLE?
Formation of immune complexes doesn’t immediately indicate that one particular part of the body is inflamed
In lupus you get widespread organ inflammation but which organs are commonly affected?
Skin and kidneys
What autoantibodies is lupus associated with?
Antinuclear antibodies
Antidouble stranded DNA antibodies
What family of diseases does lupus belong to?
Connective tissue diseases
What does Sjogrens syndrome attack?
Exocrine glands
For the aforementioned autoimmune diseases, where are the strongest genetic associations within?
Within the MHC which is encoded by the HLA gene locus
What does MHC class 1 have a genetic association with?
Ankylosing spondylitis
What does MHC class II have a genetic association with?
Rheumatoid arthritis and SLE
What is the MHC molecule responsible for?
Antigen presentation
Which T cells recognise antigens presented by MHC class I?
CD8+ T cells- cell killing
Which T cells recognise antigens presented by MHC class II?
CD4+ T cells- antibody response