Session 1: Hypersensitivity Reactions Flashcards
What is the most common cause of immunodeficiency in the UK?
Malnutrition age >65 yo
Define hypersensitivity.
The antigen-specific immune responses that are either inappropriate or excessive and result in harm to host.
What three questions do you have to ask yourself when presented with a hypersensitivity reaction?
Trigger of reaction
Mechanism of reaction
Target tissue/organ of reaction
Give broad types of triggers (antigens).
Exogenous antigens
Intrinsic antigens
Give categories of exogenous antigens.
Non infectious substances
Infectious microbes (e.g. sepsis)
Drugs like penicillin
Give common non-infectious substances triggering a reaction.
Pollen
Dust
Cats/dogs
Give categories of intrinsic antigens.
Infectious microbes (mimicry)
Self-antigens (auto-immunity)
Explain infectious microbes and mimicry.
An example is rheumatic fever where the microbe has a simlar structure to an internal antigen and triggers a reaction.
Types of hypersensitivity reactions.
Type I
Type II
Type III
Type IV
What is type I also called?
Immediate allergic reactions where there is a reaction to an environmental non-infectious antigen.
What is type II also called?
Antibody mediated.
What is type III also called?
Immune complexes mediated reaction
What is type IV also called?
Cell mediated (delayed) by environmental infectious agents and self antigens.
What is the difference between Type I-III and Type IV?
Type I-III are antibody mediated.
Type IV is cell mediated.
Phases of hypersensitivity.
Sensitisation phase
Effector phase
Explain sensitisation phase.
First encounter with the antigen where there is activation of APCs and memory effector cells.
A previously exposed individual to the antigen is said to be “sensitised”.
Explain effector phase.
Pathologic reaction upon re-exposure to the same antigen and activation of the memory cells of the adaptive immunity.
How fast does type II hypersensitivity usually develop?
Within 5-12 hours
What antibodies do type II hypersensitivity involve?
IgG
IgM
What do the antibodies (Most commonly IgG) target?
Cell bound antigens.
Give example of cell bound antigens targeted by IgG in type II HS.
Exogenous such as blood group antigens and Rhesus D antigens.
Endogenous such as self antigens.
Types of outcomes of type II HS.
Tissue/cell damage
Physiological change of
Give examples of type II HS mechanisms of tissue/cell damage.
Via complement activation where there is cell lysis via MAC.
Neutrophil recruitment and activation via C3a and C5a
Opsonisation via C3b and C4b
Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity via NK cells.
Give examples of disease due to tissue/cell damage in type II hypersensitivity.
Haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) due to antigen Rhesus D.
Transfusion reactions where the antigen is ABO system.
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Immune thrombocytopenia purpura
Anti-GBM
Give an example of disease caused by type II HS with IgM involvement.
Haemolytic transfusion reaction
Complications of haemolytic transfusion reaction.
Shock
Kidney failure
Circulatory collapse
Death
Explain the immune mechanism in haemolytic transfusion reaction.
There is an incompatibility in the ABO or Rhesus D antigens.
The donor RBC is destroyed by the recipient’s immune system.
RBC lysis induced by type II hypersensitivity involving by the naturally occurring antibodies IgM.
Give an example of disease caused by type II hypersensitivity with IgG.
Haemolytic disease of the newborn.
Explain the immune mechanism in HDN.
An Rh+ father shags an Rh- mother.
Father knocks up Rh- mother, shame.
The foetus is Rh+. This is not usually a problem as the bloods don’t mix. However during delivery there is almost always some mixing of blood and some of the Rh+ blood from foetus ends up in the mother.
The mother will develop antibodies against Rh+ (IgG anti-RhD).
The mother is now sensitised and if she has another baby with Rh+ blood the IgG antibodies can diffuse across the placenta and end up in the foetal blood. The antibodies will then attack the red blood cells and induce HDN.
How can HDN be prevented?
By giving RhoGAM which is an RhD immune globulin.