Transplantation Immunology Flashcards
The discovery of what drug has allowed the widespread practice of transplantation?
Immunosuppressive drugs - steroids discovered in late 1940’s.
- *steroids inhibit NFkappaB**
- *immunosuppressants used now to target IL-2 gene inhibition**
What is the most important risk in patients that are taking immunosuppresive drugs?
developing cancer
The work of what scientist has led to the development of the immunological basis of graft rejection?
Sir Peter Medawar
How are transplant grafts classified?
On the basis of the genetic relationship between the host and the donor.
What are the 4 classifications of grafts?
- autografts
- isografts
- allografts (allogeneic)
- xenografts (xenogeneic)
What is an autograft?
Grafts exchanged from one part to another part of the same individual.
What is an isograft?
Grafts exchanged between different individuals of identical genetic constitutions (e.g., identical twins).
What is an allograft?
Grafts exchanged between non-identical members of the same species.
What is a xenograft?
Graft exchanged between members of different species.
**are particularly susceptible to rapid attack by naturally occurring Abs and complement
** the insertion of human genes into the genomes of the donor animals (miniature swine) increases the chances of successful survival
List evidence that transplant rejection is an immune reaction.
> Prior exposure to donor MHC molecules leads to accelerated graft rejection - (conclusion) graft rejection shows memory and specificity - 2 key features of adaptive immunity.
> The ability to reject a graft rapidly can be transferred to a naive individual by lymphocytes from a sensitized individual - (conclusion) graft rejection IS mediated by lymphocytes.
> Depletion or inactivation of T lymphocytes by drugs or Abs leads to reduced graft rejection - (conclusion) graft rejection CAN be mediated by T lymphocytes.
How many allelic forms of HLA molecules does each individual inherit?
10 -12 alleles/person
True or False:
HLA Ags are co-dominantly expressed.
True
What class of HLA molecules are particularly strong barriers to transplantation?
Class-I HLA Ags (HLA-A and HLA-B) are particularly strong barriers to transplantation.
What are the three most important class II HLA molecules for transplantation pairs?
> HLA-DR
HLA-DP
HLA-DQ
What is the HLA system?
Human Lymphocytes Antigen (HLA) System
What is direct allorecognition?
> Primary response against graft.
the T cell receptors on recipient T cells directly recognize the donor MHC molecules
What is indirect allorecognition?
> the recipient T cells recognize donor MHC molecules that have been processed by recipient APCs.
> the donor MHC molecules are presented as peptides in the context of recipient MHC class II molecules.
> indirect pathway is important during chronic rejection (when the number of donor professional APCs is low to stimulate a direct immune response).
What are the 4 different types of rejection?
- hyperacute
- accelerated
- acute
- chronic
What causes hyperacute rejection?
Preformed antidonor Abs and complement.
because recipient has Abs against the Ags of the donor organ
What causes accelerated rejection?
Reactivation of sensitized T cells.
What causes acute rejection?
Primary activation of T cells.
typical primary exposure to Ag of organ
What causes chronic rejection?
Both immunologic and nonimmunologic factors.
it’s not manageable with immunosuppressant therapy
How long does it take for hyperacute rejection to occur?
minutes - hours
How long does it take for accelerated rejection to occur?
days
How long does it take for acute rejection to occur?
days - weeks
How long does it take for chronic rejection to occur?
months - years
Is hyperacute rejection due to humoral or cell-mediated immune response?
humoral immune response
Is accelerated rejection mediated by humoral or cell-mediated immune response?
Mostly humoral - but cellular involved a little bit.
What are the two types of acute rejections?
- cellular
- vascular
Is acute, cellular rejections mediated by humoral or cellular immune responses?
> Mostly Th1 - cellular mediated.
> Slight humoral involvement.
Is acute, vascular rejections mediated by humoral or cellular immune responses?
> Mostly Th2 - humoral mediated.
> Slight cellular involvement.
is chronic rejections mediated by humoral or cellular immune responses?
> Mostly humoral.
> Slight cellular involvement - it contributes, but is not the major problem.