RA Flashcards
What is RA?
Chronic, systemic inflammatory condition Causes progressive destruction of bone /cartilage around joint
Which part of the body is affected first by RA?
Interphalangeal joints of fingers and wrist are usually affected first.
Which part of the body is later affected by RA?
Ankles and hips may be affected later
What kind of symptoms are associated with RA?
- Affected joints warm, swollen and painful
- Increased extracellular fluid around joint causes stiffness particularly in the morning
Increased risk of co-morbidity associated with RA
- Cardiovascular disease
- Inflammation around lungs and heart
- Systemic symptoms e.g. malaise / weight loss
What type of arthritis is RA?
Deforming arthritis
What is septic arthritis?
- Secondary to infection
- Invasion of joints by an infectious agent resulting in joint inflammation
What is Post traumatic arthritis?
Secondary to physical injury
Two main T-helper cells involved in autoimmunity?
TH-1 and TH-17
What is RA triggered by?
Exposure of a genetically susceptible individual to an arthritogenic antigen resulting in a breakdown of immunological self-tolerance and a chronic inflammatory reaction
What is the genetic competent of RA?
Mutations in Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II are a strong predictor of
risk (HLA-DR4 allotype increased among RA patients)
What is normal in terms of tolerance in the body?
There is a balance between protection and tolerance.
What does initiating event do to the tolerance of self-antigens?
Breakdown of tolerance – acute arthritis
What may be the cause of most initiating events? (2)
Infection or injury (along with genetic competent)
What is important for the initiating event to occur?
Genetic component (not everyone with injury or infection will cause breakdown of tolerance)
What happens after the initiating event in terms of T-helper cells?
CD4+ T helper cells get activated causing autoimmune reaction.
What happens as the autoimmune reaction progresses?
Release of inflammatory cytokines and mediators leading to joint destruction and inflammation.
What does release of inflammatory cytokines and mediators cause?
Joint destruction and inflammation.
3 main steps in RA?
- Intiating event
- CD4+ T helper cells activated
- Releae of inflammatory cytokines and mediators
What is the main CD4+ T helper cells that infiltrate the joints?
Th17
What does Th17 activate?
Macrophages to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and TNF-alpha) and help B cells to produce further arthritogenic antibodies
What pro-inflammatory cytokines are secreted from macrophages (after Th17 ha activated it)?
IL-1 and TNF-alpha
What do cytokines (IL-1 and TNF-alpha) activate?
Synovial fibroblasts
What do Synovial fibroblasts release in response to the cytokines? (2)
Secrete matrix metalloproteases (MMP) – damage tissue
Secrete RANKL which activates osteoclasts -breakdown bone
What does secretion of matrix metalloproteases (MMP) in synovial fibroblasts do?
Damage tissue
What does secretion of RANKL which activate osteoclasts in synovial fibroblasts do?
Breakdown bone
What are Treg T-helper cells?
Maintain the balance between self and non-self cells. So can supress and abnormal immune response
RA autoimmune reaction and joint destruction? (4)
- Unknown trigger causes inflammation in the synovial membrane attracting leukocytes into tissue
- CD4+ T helper cells activate macrophages to secrete proinflammatory cytokines
- Cytokines induce MMP and RANKL by synovial fibroblasts
- MMP attack tissue and, osteoclasts breakdown bone
Two autoantibodies found in RA?
Rheumatoid factor (RF) Anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)
What is RF?
Rheumatoid factor which is and auto antibody that recognises the Fc portion of IgG antibody
What type of antibody can RF be? )3)
IgM, IgG and IgA
RA autoimmune reaction and joints destructions (genetic component)
Mutations in Major histocompatibility complex class II are strong predictor of risk (HLA-DR4 allotype increased among RA patients.)
Why is RF important in RA?
Cause formation of immunocomplexes that deposit within the joint?
Does RF indicate RA?
No, found 30% of SLE patients, but is found in most RA patients.
What is ACPA?
Anti-citrullinated peptide antibody, directed against peptides and proteins that are citrullinated.
When is citrullination increased?
With inflammation
Does smoking correlate with citrullination?
Yes (high risk factor that increases production of citrullinated proteins)