Tolerance & Autoimmunity Flashcards
what is tolerance induction?
how is tolerance induction conducted by the immune system?
- tolerance induction: induces tolerance to self antigens to prevent autoimmunity. done by two primary methods
-
clonal deletion: central tolerance
- self reactive T and B lymphocytes are killed by apoptosis in the bone marrow & thymus
-
anergy: peripheral tolerance
- self reactive lymphocytes are alive but cannot respond to antigen (via Treg)
-
clonal deletion: central tolerance
what is auto-immunity?
- failure of tolerance induction d/t
- failure to delete T and B cell cells in bone marrow thymus (central tolerance)
- reactivation of previously anergic T and B cells (peripheral tolerance)
- what is the means by which central T-cell tolerance in induced?
- outline the steps of this process
central T-cell tolerance = T-cell education: T-cells are selected for in the thymus in four main phases.
-
double negative T-cells
- cells have neither CD4 nor CD8
- in subscapular region (outer cortex) of thymus
-
double positive T-cells
- in the cortex of the thymus:
- adopt TCR + CD3 + CD4 + CD8
-
undergo-positive selection:
- exposed to self MHC-I & MCH-II by cortical epithelial cells → those that show moderate affinity advance
- at the corticomedullary junction
- undergo 1st round of negative selection
- exposed to thymic self antigen by IDCS
- undergo 1st round of negative selection
- in the cortex of the thymus:
-
single positive T-cells
- in the medulla
- undergo 2nd round of negative selection
- exposed to non-thymic self antigens by medullary epithelial cells
- undergo 2nd round of negative selection
- in the medulla
double negative T-cells
- found where in the thymus?
- have what features / undergo what changes
- in subscapular region (outer cortex) of thymus
- have neither CD4 or CD8
double positive T-cells
- found where in the thymus?
- have what features / undergo what changes
- first seen in the cortex of the thymus:
- adopt TCR + CD3 + CD4 + CD8 markers
- undergo positive selection (in cortex) → 1st round of negative selection (corticomedullary junction)
positive selection
- occurs where?
- involves which cell types?
- involves what steps?
- in the cortex
- to DP T-cells, by cortical epithelial cells
- DP cells exposed to self MHC-I & MCH-II by cortical epithelial cells →
- those that show MODERATE AFFINITY → advance (“positively selected”
- those that show too high / too low affinity → apoptosis
- DP cells exposed to self MHC-I & MCH-II by cortical epithelial cells →
negative selection
- occurs where?
- to which cell types?
- involves what steps?
occurs in two phases
- 1st phase
- in the corticomedullary junction
- to DP T-cells cells by interdigitating dendritic cells (IDCs)
- IDCs expose DPs to THYMIC SELF ANTIGENS
- 2nd phase
- in the medulla
- to single positive T-cells by medullary epithelial cells
- medullary epithelial cells, under regulation of AIRE transcription, expose cells to NON-THYMIC SELF ANTIGEN
cells that do not recognize thymic or non thymic self antigen → leave thymus and populate peripheral lymphoid organs
AIRE transcription regulator- what is its role & clinical significance?
- role: regulates the second round of negative selection, wherein medullary epithelial cells expose single positive cells to non-thymic self antigens
- clinical significance: a defect in the AIRE gene results in APS (autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome-1)
what is the role of each of these cells in the central tolerance induction of T-cells?
- cortical epithelial cells
- interdigitating dendritic cells (IDCs)
- medullary epithelial cells
- cortical epithelial cells - positive selection: exposes DPs to MHC-I & MCH-II
- interdigitating dendritic cells (IDCs) - negative selection: expose DPs to thymic self antigen
- medullary epithelial cells - negative selection: expose SPs to non-thymic self antigen
discuss the mechanism of peripheral T-cell tolerance
= anergy: suppression of T-cells that reacted to self antigen but still made it thru T-cell education
- conducted by T-reg cells
- that detect self reactive T-cells via detecting T-cells that react with APCs without a B7 receptor - i.e., host cells
- then release IL-10 & TGF-B → suppression of T-cell
what is the means by which central B-cell tolerance is induced?
- occurs the bone marrow
- immature B-cells (IgM + and IgD -) are presented with self antigen by stromal cells
- those that interact with self antigen → deleted
what are the means of peripheral tolerance induction to B-cells?
- anergy: immature B-cells that react to soluble self antigen but made it through negative selection in bone marrow are made unreactive
- receptor editing: RAG genes reactivated and B-cell antibodies specificity are changed from self → non self reactive
what are the immunologically privileged sites? what does this mean?
T-cell x tissue interactions don’t occur in these sites because they are inhibited by a blood-tissue barrier
- brain
- anterior chamber of eye
- placenta / pregnancy uterus
- testis
T-reg cells
- have what markers?
- secrete what cytokines?
- have what role (s)?
- CD4, CD25, FoxP3
- secrete IL-10, TGF-B
- role: conduct peripheral T-cell anergy to → prevent autoimmunity
autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome - 1
- pathogenesis
- presentation
- d/t defect in AIRE gene: regulates negative selection (exposure of T-cells to non-thymic self antigens by medullary epithelial cells)
- clinical presentation
- mucocutaneous candidasis
- hypoparathyroidism / thyroiditis
- type I DM
- ovarian failure
- alopecia
- vitiligo
IPEX
- pathogenesis
- presentation
= immunodysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, and enteropathy X-linked (autoimmune disease)
- pathogenesis: mutation of Foxp3 gene (codes for FoxP3 marker on T-reg cell)
- presentation
-
classic triad = enteropathy + endocrinopathy + dermatitis
- enteropathy: severe diarrhea
- endocrinopathy: TIDM, thyroiditis
- dermatitis - eczema, psoriasis
- bullous phempigoid
- high IgE
-
classic triad = enteropathy + endocrinopathy + dermatitis
induction of auto-immunity is influenced by..?
- inheritance of HLA genes (B27, DR2, DR3, DR4)
- environmental: molecular mimicry
- physical trauma that breaks immunological privileges
HLA-B27 is associated with development of what autoimmune diseases?
- psoroiasis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- IBD: crohns, UC
- reiter’s syndrome
“PAIR”
HLA-DR2 is associated with development of what auto-immune diseases?
- MS (type IV)
- SLE (type III)
- goodpasture (type II)
- hay fever / allergic rhinitis (type 1)
HLA-DR3 & DR4 are associated with what autoimmune diseases?
- both HLA-DR3/DR4: T1DM
- HLA-DR4: rheumatoid arthritis
what autoimmune disease is an example of molecular mimicry?
- rheumatic fever following s. pyogenes infection (IgG/IgM made against cardiac myosin that resembles M-protein - Type II hypersensitivity)
what is an example of autoimmunity to trauma?
- sympathetic ophthalmia - antigens released from (anterior chamber of eye) - reacts with T-cells who have never been exposed to them
pernicious anemia
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: intrinsic factor / parietal cells
- organ target: stomach
- hypersensitivity type II
pernicious anemia - mechanism
- Abs made against intrinsic factor / parietal cells (parietal cells produce intrinsic factor). this leads to
-
megoblastic anemia
- intrinsic factor needed for Vit B12 → Vit B12 malabsorption → dysfunctional RBC production
-
chronic hylicobacter pylori infection
- parietal cell destruction → achlorhydria → infection
-
megoblastic anemia
pernicious anemia - clinical presentation
-
class triad
- weakness
- paresthesia
- tongue - sore, beefy red
-
“megoblastic madness”
- delusions / paranoia
- ataxia
- chronic H. pylori infections
pernicious anemia - diagnosis
- presence of Abs to intrinsic factor
- gastric gland atrophy
- achlorydia
- abnormal RBCs
- megoblastic RBCs
- oval macrocytic RBCs
presence of oval macrocytic RBCs
pernicious anemia (autoimmune, type II)
megoblastic RBCs
pernicious anemia (autoimmune, type II)
Abs to parietal cells
pernicious anemia (type II,
sore tongue
- part of pernicious anemia triad
- weakness
- paresthesia
- sore tongue
pernicious anemia - tx
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
good-pasture syndrome
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular: type IV collagen in basement membrane
- organ: lungs, kidneys
- hypersensitivity Type II
good-pasture syndrome - mechanism
- type II sensitivity → smoking / solvent in the context of HLA-DR → Abs made against type IV collagen in the basement membrane of
- lungs → pulmonary hemorrhage
- kidneys → glomerulonephritis
good pasture syndrome - presentation
main manifestations are
-
lungs → pulmonary hemorrhage
- dyspnea + cough
- chest pain
- worse case: respiratory failure → death
-
kidneys → glomerulonephritis
- dysfunction of nephron leads to
- HTN
- edema
- hematuria
- proteinuria
- worst case: ESRD
- dysfunction of nephron leads to
good-pasture syndrome - diagnosis
- CXR: lung consolidations
- kidney defects:
- inc BUN & creatinine
- hematuria, proteinuria
- immune:
-
circulating anti-GDM antibodies
- form linear bands
- are “ribbon like”
-
circulating anti-GDM antibodies
what immunological findings in the blood help dx good-pastures?
-
circulating anti-GBM antibodies
- linear bands → look “ribbon like”
what is the m/c cause of death in good-pastures syndrome?
pulmonary hemorrhage → respiratory failure → death
tx of good-pasture syndrome?
- acute phase tx
- intubation / assisted ventilation
- hemodialysis
- long term tx
- pharmaceutical
- plasmapheresis → removes Abs
-
immunosuppression
- corticosteroids
- cyclophosphamide
- pharmaceutical
Type I DM
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: beta cells
- organ target: pancreas
- hypersensitivity type IV
type I DM mechanism
- autoimmune cell mediated killing of beta cells (Type IV)
- viral infection (possibly Cocksackie virus) has “molecular mimicry” with GAD45 receptor on B-cell
-
Th1 vs Treg “fight” over GAD45 on B-cell
- If Treg wins: IL-10/TGF-B made → anergy of T-cells
- if Th1 wins: INF-y → Tc activated → kill host B-cells:
- Tc bind:
- IGRP
- Fas
- Tc bind:
-
Th1 vs Treg “fight” over GAD45 on B-cell
- viral infection (possibly Cocksackie virus) has “molecular mimicry” with GAD45 receptor on B-cell
often occurs in the context of HLA-DR3/DR4
T1DM - presentation
- juvenile onset
- THIN
- hyperglycemia:
- → polydipsia, polyuria
- → ketoacidosis
myasthenia gravis
- molecular target
- organ target
- what type hypersensitivity
- molecular target: AChR
- organ target: skeletal muscle
- type II hypersensitivity
myasthenia gravis - presentation
- muscle weakness that
- affects one muscle in particular
- is worse in the pm
- results in
-
eye defects:
- ptosis
- incomplete closure
- diplopia
- limited adduction
- difficulty chewing / swallowing
-
eye defects:
neonatal myasthenia
- mechanism
- presentation
- passively transferred anti-AChR IgG
- presenattion - general weakness
addison’s disease
- molecular target
- organ target
- what type hypersensitivity?
- molecular target: adrenal cell components
- organ target: adrenal gland
- type II + type IV hypersensitivity
Addison’s disease - mechanism
- type II + type IV
- auto-Ab against adrenal cell components
- cortex atrophy
- insufficiency aldosterone
- BP drop
- ACTH → MSH accumulates
addison’s disease - presentation
- HYPOTENSION
- often orthostatic
- MSH ACCUMULATION:
- hyperpigmentation
- vitiligo
- weight loss + fatigue + abdominal pain
bullous pemphigoid
- molecular target
- organ target
- what hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: hemidesmosome antigens - BPAg1 & BPAg2 at dermal-intradermal junction
- organ target: SKIN
- hypersensitivity type II
bullous pemphigoid - mechanism
- type II
- IgG antibody made against hemi-desmosomal antigens - BPAg1 & BPAg2 - along basement membrane →
- SKIN BLISTERING
- rarely involves mucous membranes
- IgG antibody made against hemi-desmosomal antigens - BPAg1 & BPAg2 - along basement membrane →
bullous pemphigoid -presentation
- blisters that are
- TENSE
- PRECEDED BY URTICARIA
bullous pemphigoid- diagnosis
- IgG
- in linear band dermal-epidermal junction
- on blister roof
- circulating, against BPAg2 & BPAg2
pemphigous vulgaris
- molecular target
- organ target
- sensitivity type
- molecular target: keratinocyte desmogleins
- organ target; SKIN + mucous membranes
- type II hypersensitivity
pemphigous vulgaris mechanism
- type II hypersensitivity
- IgG or IgM made against keratinocyte desmogleins
- leads to → flaccid blisters
pemphigous vulgaris - presentation
- blisters that
- are PAINFUL
- not pruritic
- slough off
- penetrate into mucous membranes
- are PAINFUL
pemphigous vulgaris diagnosis
- IgG/IgM on the surface of keratinocytes, or
- circulating IgG that bind the epidermis
“fish net appearance”
pemphigous vulgaris - painful (not pruritic) blister that penetrates skin & mcuosa
bullous pemphigoid - TENSE, preceded by urticaria
linear band of IgG at dermal-epidermal junction
bullous pemphigoid
salt-split skin: IgG on blister roof
bullous pemphigoid
IgG/IgM on the surface of keratinocytes (on epidermis)
“fishnet appearance”
pemphigous vulgaris
hyperpigmentation (MSH acculuation)
Addison’s disease
compare and contrast the two bullous diseases - in terms of mechanism, presentation, dx
both type II diseases
bulloid pemphigous
- presentation:
- tense, preceded by urticaria
- ONLY SKIN AFFECTED
- dx: IgG that is
- in a linear band at dermal-epidermal junction
- on blister roof
- circulating, anti-BPAg1 & BPAg2
pemphigous vulgaris
- presentation:
- painful (not itchy)
- SKIN + MUCOUS MEMBRANES AFFECTED
- dx: IgG/IgM
- on keratinocytes (in epidermis) -“fishnet appearance”
Grave’s Disease
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: TSH receptor
- organ target: thyroid
- hypersensitivity type II
Grave’s Disease - mechanism
- type II hypersensitivity
- auto-Ab made against TSH receptor → is agonistic → hyperthyroidism
grave’s disease - presentation
-
triad
- goiter
- exopthalmos
- pretibial myxedema: “orange peel” skin under the knee
- hyperthyroidism (hyper-metabolic state)
- sweating
- heat intolerance
- tachycardia
- inc GI - diarrhea, weight loss
- restless / anxious
Grave’s disease - dx
- anti-TSH receptors - diagnostic
- also
- TSH LOW
- T3, T4 ELEVATED
- inc radioactive iodine uptake in thyroid
hashimoto thyroiditis
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: thyroid globulin & thyroperoxidase
- organ target: thyroid
- type II hypersensitivity
hashimoto thyroiditis - mechanism
- molecular target
- organ target
- what type of hypersensitivity?
- molecular: thyroglobulin & thyroid peroxidase (necessary for T3 & T4 synthesis)
- organ: thyroid
- Type II & Type IV hypersensitivity
hashimoto thyroiditis - mechanism
-
Th1 infiltration of thyroid gland, which triggers
- B-cell production of antibodies made against thyroid peroxidase & thyroglobulin
- cytotoxic T-cell activation
- leads to
- formation of lymphoid follicles
- lack of T3,T4 → hypothyroidism
hashimoto’s thyroiditis - presentation
- hypothyroidism (hypo-metabolic state)
- cold intolerance
- dry scaly skin (no sweating)
- bradycardia
- dec GI → constipation, weight gain
hashimoto thyroiditis - dx
- antibodies to thyroid peroxidase & thyroglobulin - diagnostic
- also
- elevated TSH level
- low T3, T4
- decreased uptake of radioactive iodine
- histology: lymphoid follicles
what is the most common autoimmune disease of the skin?
psoriasis
psoriasis - mechanism
Th1 and Th17 cytokines induce keratinocytes
psoriasis - presentation
- scaly plaques - over elbows, knees, scalp, lower back
- + blisters that: are filled with STERILE, PUSTILE FLUID (vs bullous pemphigus & pemphigus vulgaris)
- auspitz sign: punctate bleeding
psoriasis - presentation
- scaly plaques - over elbows, knees, scalp, lower back
- + blisters that: are filled with STERILE, PUSTILE FLUID (vs bullous pemphigus & pemphigus vulgaris)
- auspitz sign: punctate bleeding
psoriasis - scaly plaques on knees/elbows, scalp & back - blisters filled with sterile, pustule fluid
psoriasis - dx
- RF negative
- elevated uric acid
- clinical: scaly plaques, blisters with PUS, auspitz sign
rheumatoid arthritis
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: synovial components
- organ target: joints - synovial membrane / cartilage / ligaments / tendons
- type IV hypersensitivity
rheumatoid arthritis - mechanism
- type IV hypersensitivity
- CD4 T-cells → stimulates synovial cells
often in the context of HLA-DR4 mutation
rheumatoid arthritis - presentation
-
arthritis of 3+ joint areas
-
especially of
- HANDS
- FEET
- also elbows, knees, hips spine, ect.
-
especially of
rheumatoid arthritis -diagnosis
- ESR and CRP elevated
- +/- circulating RF
- radiographs show:
- erosions
- decalcifications
tx or rheumatoid arthritis?
- rituximab (targets CD20)
- anti-TNF-a inhibitors
- infliximab (same as IBD)
- adalimumab (same as IBD)
- etanercept
SLE
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: DNA/nucleoproteins
- organ targets: several - skin + kidneys + joints
- type III hypersensitivity
SLE - mechanism
- type III hypersensitivity
- immune complexes form against DNA/nucleoproteins in the skin + kidney + joints
- worsened by complement deficiency
SLE - presentation
- triad
- ERYTHEMA - BUTTERFLY RASH
- GLOMERULONEPHRITIS
- ARTHRITIS
- sometimes discoid rash
what increases the risk of SLE?
- complement deficiency
- increased estrogen
butterfly rash
SLE
discoid rash
SLE
which autoimmune diseases can cause mouth rashes?
- pemphigus’ vulgaris (type II) - painful blisters
- SLE - (type III) discoid rash
SLE - diagnosis
- lumpy-bumpy pattern on IF
- antibodies that indicate kidney involvement
- anti-dsDNA antibodies
- anti-smith antibodies
- +/- RF (less common that RA)
SLE - tx
- avoid sunlight to prevent flares
- NSAIDS
- steroids
sjogren syndrome (sicca syndrome)
- target molecule
- target organ
- hypersensitivity type
- target molecule: n/a
- target organ: exocrine glands - salivary, lacrimal
- mechanism: type IV hypersensitivity
sjogren syndrome - presentation
-
DRY EYES (XEROPHTALMIA) + DRY MOUTH (XEROSTOMIA) - m/c
- can cause dryness of other mucosa - skin, nasal, laryngeal, vaginal
- parotid swelling (esp. in children)
sjogren syndrome - diagnosis
- type IV hypersensitivity
- CD4 cells infiltrate exocrine glands → impedes secretion
sjogren syndrome - dx
- Shirmer test - tear production
- salivary / parotid gland biopsy → CD4 cell infiltrate
- +/ RF
guillane barre syndrome (GBS)
- molecular target
- organ target
- hypersensitivity type
- molecular target: gangliosides (GM1 & GM1b) in myelin
- organ target: PNS
- hypersensitivity type IV
what is a major complication of Sjogren’s syndrome?
non-hodgkins lymphoma
GBS - mechanism
- type IV hypersensitivity
- molecular mimicry induced - by either viral infection or previous vaccination
- viral infection: campylobacter -m/c
- also VZV/EBV/CMV
- viral infection: campylobacter -m/c
- causes CD4+ mediated immune response against myelin gangliosides (GM1 & GMb1) in PNS → abnormal nerve conduction
- molecular mimicry induced - by either viral infection or previous vaccination
GBS - presentation
- PNS dysfunction → muscle weakness
- dysphagia, dysarthria (trouble speaking)
- diminished reflexes
- ataxia
- facial droop / double vision
GBS - Dx
- anti-ganglioside antibodies
- abnormal nerve conduction tests
- nerve root enhancement on MRI
multiple sclerosis
- organ target
- molecular target
- hyperesensitivity type
- organ target: CNS
- molecular target: myelin basic protein
- type IV hypersensitivity
MS - mechanism
- type IV hypersensitivity
- likely induced by molecular mimicry d/t
- EBV
- HTLV-1
-
TH1/Th17 beat out Treg
- produce cytokines that induce killing of oligodrocytes → destruction of myelin sheath in white matter of CNS
- likely induced by molecular mimicry d/t
MS - presentation
-
unilateral
- paresthesia
- trunk
- one side of face
- visual disturbances
- paresthesia
-
charcot triad
- dysarthria
- ataxia
- tremor
- poor bladder control
MS - dx
- plaques of demyelination on MRI
- oligoclonal IgG bands on agarose electrophoresis
- +/- myelin basic protein demyelination
MS - tx
- corticosteroids (methylprednisolone), unlike GB
- ABC therapy