Therapeutics & Investigations 2 (Part 3) Flashcards
(254 cards)
What is transplantation? + issues that this has with the immune system?
- The introduction of biological material, e.g. organs, tissue and cells, into another organism
- The immune system is evolved to remove anything that it regards as non self.
• Can transplant the cornea, kidney, liver, heart, and even full face
• Some of these had to wait until the development of immunotherapy
Describe donor/recipient relationships in transplants
- The importance of MHC matching
- There are rejection mechanisms
- Immune cells are also transplanted
- Immunosuppression occurs in transplant medicine
Describe donor/ recipient relationships and how they can be autologous and synergic
- Donors and recipients = genetically identical
- Do not usually generate any immunological problems
Mice = autologous transplant is when it is taken from one part to another part of the mice synergic is using genetically identical clones
Describe the autologous transplant in humans
Autologous = when it is all on the SAME person - section of one persons body being transferred to another section, like a skin graft auto = automatic… can be done automatically because it is all from the same person.
Describe the syngeneic transplant in humans
- Transplantation with genetically identical twins = syngeneic (“same-geneic”)
Describe the donor/recipient relationships - allogenic
- Donors and recipients are from the same species but are genetically different
- Tissues / organs from one mouse to anther mouse
Donor/recipient relationships = xenogenic
- This is when the donor and the recipient are different species
- X in Xenogenic = shows the cross between species that occurs
- Best transplant animal = pig, also baboons can be used
Describe the process of Xenogeneic transplantation in humans
- E.g. pigs heart can be put into humans (xenogeneic)
- Mismatch in the MHC between the animal and the donor
The importance of MHC matching :
Major histocompatability antigens
- MHC = most important component of transplants
- Histocompatability = tissue compatability
- Immune responses to the transplant are caused by genetic differences between the donor and the recipient
- The most important = differences between the major histocompatabiity antigens
- Human transplants = largely unsuccessful until there is identification of human MHC
- Human MHC proteins are named HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen)
Ø HLA = immune system can discriminate between self and non self
Describe the HLA class 1 frequency of expression
- This is showing the mean HLA frequency from the 5 major world populations
- There is a large amount of variation within HLA alleles
- Frequency of alleles is not the same which is a good thing
- This makes it easier to match donors
Action of T cells and their recognition abilities
- T cells need to be able to recognise foreign peptides that are bound to self MHC
- CD8 and CD4 immunity = T cell immunity is MHC restricted
- This refers to the need of MHC to present the antigen to T cells
- Antibody on B cell can usually bind the antigen irrespective of proteins
- Peptide can only bind to TCR as part of the MHC complex
• This is termed T cell immunity - This is the MHC peptide complex (PMHC)
- Identifies residues on the peptide and also on the HLA molecule
- This is important for transplantation
- This is also important for CD4 - detection of peptides in the context of MHC class 2 & the peptides can alter the properties of the MHC
- Class 2 = 2 binding requirements are more promiscuous. Amino acid can be between 9-20 amino acids long
- Diversity of the HLA - favourite peptide image - there is a complex that is formed and immunity in bacteria
Relationship between T Cells and MHC class 1
- The T cells will recognise short peptide fragments that are presented to them by major histocompatibility (MHC) proteins
- Important difference = all of our somatic cells have HLA class 1
- Proteins that are degraded are loaded onto MHC and then go on the surface
(See animation on the actual slides to see the order in which this progresses)
MHC class 2 loading
- MHC loading is similar. Class 2 = only on
surface of WBCs like dendritic cells etc. - Not present on other somatic cells
- MHC 2 gets its peptides to present to T cells in different way
Ø Engulfs dying red cell
Ø Processes the peptide in that cell and presents them an HLA to the CD40 cell
Key points about MHC (Major Histocompatability Complex) CLASS 1
IT BINDS - Fragments of intracellular proteins
- All somatic cells
• Presents them as peptide MHC complex
IT IS SEEN BY
- T cell receptor, on cytotoxic T cells
- With assistance from CD8
Key points about MHC (Major Histocompatability Complex) CLASS 2
IT BINDS - Fragments of proteins which have been taken up by endocytosis
• This is only on the professional immune cells
• Can internalise exogenous dying cells and break up these proteins
IT IS SEEN BY -T cell receptor on helper T cells
- With assistance from CD4
Characteristics of helper T cells
- Information + support for other immune cells, via cytokine production
- Helper T cells are required to produce antibody + cytotoxic T cell responses
- Interferon gamma = interact with class 1 and these cells can lyse the infected cells, or cells that they regard as foreign
Characteristics of cytotoxic T cells
- They are highly specific killer cells
MHC protein in transplants
- In transplants both the MHC protein AND the peptide in its binding groove may be foreign
Describe HLA mismatch and graft survival
- In transplants both the MHC protein AND the peptide in its binding groove may be foreign
Describe HLA mismatch and graft survival
- Usually try to match 4/6 MHC class 2 loci
- Reduces the likelihood of future transplants and problems with future transplants
- Decreasing amount oof time of acceptance by host
Comparison between live vs. dead donors
- Recipients will have a history of disease, which will have resulted in a degree of inflammation
- Organs from deceased donors are also likely to be inflammed condition due to ischaemia
- Transplant success is less sensitive to MHC mismatch for live donors
Rejection mechanisms
Ø Types of graft rejection
- Hyperacute rejection
- Acute rejection
- Chronic rejection
Characteristics of hyperacute rejection
- This is within a few hours of the transplant
- Due to a strong antibody response - this is usually because the reciepients of the transplant has seen the antigen = even from pregnancy.
- Most commonly seen for highly vascularised organs, e.g. kidney
- Requires pre existing antibodies
Ø Usually to ABO blood group antigens or MHC-1 proteins - ABO antigens are expressed on endothelial cells of blood vessels
- Antibodies to MHC can arise from pregnancy, blood transfusion or previous transplant
How can antibodies cause damage to transplanted tissue
- There is recognition of Fc region.
Ø Has a FAB hypervariable region which is responsible for binding the antibodies - This leads to
Ø Complement activation
Ø Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (Fc receptors on NK cells)
Ø Phagocytosis (FC receptors on macrophages)