Tolerance and Autoimmunity Flashcards

1
Q

What is immunological tolerance?

A

A specific unresponsiveness to an Ag

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2
Q

Autoimmunity results from what?

A

A breakdown in tolerance

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3
Q

Where is central tolerance induced?

A

In immature self reactive lymphocytes in the primary lymphoid organs

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4
Q

What does central tolerance ensure?

A

That mature lymphocytes are not reactive to self Ags

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5
Q

Immature lymphocytes specific for self Age may encounter these Ags in the generative (central) lymphoid organs and are either what?

A

Deleted by apoptosis, change BCR specificity (B cells only) or develop into Treg cells

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6
Q

When is peripheral tolerance induced?

A

In mature self reactive lymphocytes in LNs or peripheral sites such as submucosal tissue and is needed to prevent the activation of these potentially dangerous lymphocyte clones in the periphery

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7
Q

What can happen to mature self reactive lymphocytes in the peripheral tissues?

A

Can be inactivated (anergy), deleted by apoptosis or suppressed by Treg cells

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8
Q

Which cytokine is a critical factor for survival and functional competence of Treg cells?

A

IL-2

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9
Q

What are induced Treg cells (iTregs)?

A

Mature Th0 cells outside the thymus that have acquired Treg phenotype and function (in LNs and GI tract)

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10
Q

Ag recognition by a naive Th cell in the presence of TGF-beta, IL-2 and RA induces what?

A

FOXP3 expression if IL-6 is not present resulting in the cell developing into a iTreg cell

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11
Q

Ag recognition by a naive Th cell in the presence of TGF-beta and IL-6 prevents what?

A

FOXP3 expression leading to Th17 cell differentiation

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12
Q

Retinoic acid, produced by DCs, facilities the generation of what?

A

Of FOXP3+ induced Treg cells from naive CD4+CD25- T cells

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13
Q

Natural Treg cells are generated by what?

A

Self ag recognition in the thymus

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14
Q

All B cells with a BCR containing the lambda IgL chain undergo what?

A

BCR editing

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15
Q

Which cell plays a key role in peripheral tolerance?

A

Tregs

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16
Q

What happens to a T cell that recognizes an Ag without adequate CD80:CD28 costimulation?

A

Becomes anergic and incapable of responding to the Ag

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17
Q

Describe the death receptor (extrinsic) pathway for apoptosis

A

T cell expressing death receptor Fas(CD95) binds to FasL on another cell which causes activation of the initiator caspase in the cell expressing Fas
Cell dies by apoptosis

18
Q

Describe the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathway for apoptosis

A

Cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic proteins leave the mitochondria and apoptosis pathway is triggered

19
Q

What role does AIRE play in the breakdown of central tolerance?

A

Mutations in AIRE protein cause a breakdown of central tolerance and are associated with decreased expression of peripheral tissue self Ags in the thymus
It has been proposed to function as a TF
In the absence of AIRE self reactive T cells are not eliminated and can enter tissues where the Ags continue to be produced and cause injury

20
Q

Which genes are associated with a breakdown in peripheral tolerance?

A

C4, CTLA4, Fas/FasL and FOXP3

21
Q

Describe the cell intrinsic function of CTLA4

A

Engagement of CTLA4 on a T cell may deliver inhibitory signals that terminate further activation of that cell

22
Q

Describe the cell extrinsic action of CTLA4

A

CLTA4 on Treg cells or responding T cells bind to B7 molecules on APCs to make it unavailable to CD28 and blocking T cell activation
Reduced B7 costimulation -> inhibition of T cell activation

23
Q

What is immunological ignorance?

A

T cells that are physically separated from heir specific Ags cannot become activated

24
Q

Which inhibitory cytokines are released by Treg cells?

A

IL-10 and TGF-beta

25
Q

What does immune privileged site refer to?

A

Observation that tissue grafts placed in certain anatomical sites can survive for extended periods of time

26
Q

Immune privileged sites include?

A

Eye, brain, pregnant uterus, ovary, testis, adrenal cortex and hair follicles

27
Q

What is the cause of all autoimmune diseases?

A

Failure of T or B cell self tolerance

28
Q

Which gene is strongly associated with autoimmune disorders?

A

MHC genes (mostly class II)

29
Q

What are the three different mechanisms by which microbial Ags can initiate an autoimmune disorder?

A

Molecular mimicry, polyclonal (bystander) activation, and release of previously sequestered Ags

30
Q

What is molecular mimicry?

A

Rheumatic fever is triggered by streptococcal infection and mediated by cross reactivity b/w streptococcal Ags and cardiac myosin
MS - T cells react with myelin basic protein and peptides from Epstein-Barr virus, influenza A and HPV

31
Q

What is polyclonal (bystander) effect?

A

Microbial infection resulting in a robust inflammatory response can cause a polyclonal activation of auto reactive lymphocytes in the cytokine field

32
Q

What is the mechanism of releasing previously sequestered Ags?

A

Microbes that kill cells and cause the release of sequestered Ags (DAMPs) lead to the development of autoimmunity

33
Q

What are the principal clinical manifestations of SLE?

A

Rash, arthritis and glomerulonephritis

34
Q

What is the most frequent Ab found in SLE?

A

Anti-DNA Abs which are responsible for glomerulonephritis, vasculitis and arthritis in these pts

35
Q

What is the principal diagnostic test for SLE?

A

Presence of anti-nuclear (DNA) Abs

36
Q

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

A

An inflammatory disease involving small and large joints associated with destruction of joint cartilage and bone

37
Q

What are the cells involved with RA?

A

Th1 cells, Th17, activated B cells, plasma cells and macrophages

38
Q

What is SLE mediated by?

A

Type III hypersensitivity reactions

39
Q

What is RA mediated by?

A

Type IV hypersensitivity reactions in which Th17 cells play a key role

40
Q

RA pts frequently have circulating what?

A

IgM or IgG called rheumatoid factor (RF) that react with the Fc portion of circulating IgG

41
Q

What is the diagnostic test for RA?

A

Presence of circulating rheumatoid factor