Primary Immunodefficiency 2 Flashcards
What are components of the adaptive immune system?
T lymphocytes:
- CD4 T cells
- CD8 T cells
B lymphocytes:
- B cells
- Plasma cells
- Antibodies
Soluble components:
- Cytokines and chemokines
What are the primary lymphoid organs?
Organs involved in lymphocyte development
Bone marrow: Both T and B lymphocytes are derived from haematopoetic stem cells, Also the site of B cell maturation.
Thymus: Site of T cell maturation. Most active in the foetal and neonatal period, involutes after puberty.
What do defects in haemopoetic stem cells result in?
Reticular dysgenesis: Most severe form of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Due to a mutation in mitochondrial energy metablism enzyme adenylate kinase 2 (AK2).
Failure of production of:
- Lymphocytes
- Neutrophils
- Monocyte/macrophages
- Platelets
Fatal in very early life unless corrected with bone marrow transplantation
What do failures in lymphoid precursors result in?
Other forms of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
What are the causes of severe combined immunodeficiency?
>20 possible pathways identified.
- Deficiency of cytokine receptors
- Deficiency of signalling molecules
- Metabolic defects: Effect on different lymphocyte subsets (T, B, NK) depend on mutation.
What is X-Linked SCID?
45% of all severe combined immunodeficiency. Mutation of common gamma chain on chromosome Xq13.1.
Shared by cytokine receptors for IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21. Inability to respond to cytokines causes early arrest of T cell and NK cell development and production of immature B cells.
Phenotype: Very low or absent T cell numbers. Very low or absent NK cell numbers. Normal or increased B cell numbers but low Igs.
What is ADA deficiency?
16.5% of all severe combined immunodeficiency:
Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency:
Enzyme required for cell metabolism in lymphocytes.
Phenotype: Very low or absent T cell numbers. Very low or absent B cell numbers. Very low or absent NK cell numbers.
What protects SCID neonates in the first 3 months of life?
Active transport of maternal IgG across placenta
IgG in colostrum
What is the clinical phenotype of severe combined immunodeficiency?
- Unwell by 3 months of age
- Infections of all types
- Failure to thrive
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Unusual skin disease: Colonisation of infant’s empty bone marrow by maternal lymphocytes. Graft versus host disease.
- Family history of early infant death
How do T-cells mature?
Arise from haematopoetic stem cells. Exported as immature cells to the thymus where undergo selection. Mature T lymphocytes enter the circulation and reside in secondary lymphoid organs.
How are T-cells selected?
Low affinity for HLA: Not selected to avoid inadequate reactivity
Intermediate affinity for HLA: Positive selection ~10% original cells
High affinity for HLA: Negative selection to avoid autoreactivity
How are CD4+ and CD8+ cells selected?
Intermediate affinity for HLA class I: Differentiate as CD8+ T cell
Intermediate affinity for HLA class II: Differentiate as CD4+ T cell
What are CD8+ cells?
Specialised cytotoxic cells. Recognise peptides derived from intracellular proteins in association with HLA class I – HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C.
Kill cells directly – Perforin (pore forming) and granzymes.
Expression of Fas ligand.
Secrete cytokines eg IFNg TNFa
Particularly important in defence against viral infections and tumours.
What are CD4+ cells?
Recognise:
- Peptides derived from extracellular proteins
- Presented on HLA Class II molecules (HLA-DR, HLA-DP HLA-DQ).
Immunoregulatory functions via cell:cell interactions and expression of cytokines.
Provide help for development of full B cell response.
Provide help for development of some CD8+ T cell responses.
What are subsets of CD4+ cells?
Th1: Help CD8+ T cells and macrophages
Th17: Help neutrophil recruitment
Treg: IL-10/TGF beta expressing CD25+ Foxp3+
TFh: Follicular helper T cells
Th2: Helper T cells
TPh: Peripheral helper T cells
What do defects in T cell maturation and selection in the thymus result in?
22q11.2 deletion syndrome: DiGeorge syndrome
Developmental defect of pharyngeal pouch
- Deletion at 22q11.2
- TBX1 may be responsible for some features
- Usually sporadic rather than inherited