(PM3A) Autoimmunity Flashcards
What are some types of corticosteroid receptors?
(1) Glucocorticoid
(2) Mineralcorticoid
Put dexamethasone, cortisone, and prednisone in order of potency. With (1) being most potent and (3) the least potent.
(1) Dexamethasone
(2) Prednisone
(3) Cortisone
What is an autoantigen?
Disease specific antigen
Causes autoimmune disorder
How can autoimmunity be classified?
By effector mechanisms
What is an example of an organ specific autoimmune disease?
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
What is an example of a systemic autoimmune disease?
SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Rheumatoid arthritis
What is Goodpasture’s syndrome?
Organ specific autoimmune disease
Name an example of an acute autoimmune disease.
Scleroderma/ type 1 diabetes mellitus
In which autoimmune disease are myelin proteins present as the autoantigen?
Multiple sclerosis
In which autoimmune disease are pancreatic islet cells present as the autoantigen?
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
In which autoimmune disease are IgG (antibody) present as the autoantigen?
Rheumatoid arthritis
In which autoimmune disease are cell nucleus proteins present as the autoantigen?
Systemic lupus erythematosus
SLE
What are the purposes of autoimmune disease treatment?
(1) Block lymphocyte activity
(2) Block inflammation
(3) Treat/ manage symptoms
Which classes of immunosuppressant drugs block adaptive immune priming?
Do this by blocking signals/ killing lymphocytes
(1) Calcineurin inhibitors
(2) Proliferation blockers
(3) Monoclonal antibodies
Which classes of immunosuppressant drugs block inflammatory signals?
(1) Anti-histamines
(2) Glucocorticoids
(3) Biopharmaceuticals
Which classes of immunosuppressant drugs provide symptomatic relief from immunopathology?
(1) Analgesics – block pain
(2) Insulin –symptomatic relief
(3) Thyroid hormone –symptomatic relief
Which class of immunosuppressants are able to inhibit the adaptive immune system?
(1) Antiproliferative drugs – e.g. methotrexate
(2) Inhibitors of lymphocyte signalling – calcineurin inhibitors, e.g. ciclosporin A
(3) Biologic inhibitors of lymphocyte signalling – e.g. abatacept
What effect do glucocorticoids have on the immune system?
Block lymphocyte activation
Which drugs are able to limit potentially damaging inflammation in autoimmune disease?
Glucocorticoids (corticosteroids)
– Can be injected into joints (AVOID long-term treatment)
– Unfortunately blocks ALL inflammatory signals
What is TNF-alpha?
Potent inflammatory cytokine
Protein signalling molecule
Normally produced in response to bacterial infection
What are some examples of anti-TNF therapy?
(1) Etanercept
(2) Infleximab
(3) Adalimumab
What is a common definition of autoimmunity?
Failure of tolerance
What is tolerance?
Mechanism by which our immune system removes random antigen receptors that recognise ‘self antigen’
