applications in cancer and auto-immune diseases

Question 1

What is tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFa)

Answer 1

TNFa is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation

Question 2

How is TNFa(alpha) produced

Answer 2

TNFa produced by activated macrophages and monocytes

Question 3

What can TNFa(alpha) induce

Answer 3

TNFa is a pyrogen and can induce fever, cell death and inflammation

Question 4

What can an overproduction of TNFa(alpha) result in

Answer 4

Arthritis
Psoriasis
Inflammatory bowel disease

Question 5

What is HER2

Answer 5

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) - small protein hormone involved in the regulation of cell proliferation

Question 6

What happens following an amplification of HER2 gene

Answer 6

Amplification of the HER2 gene leads to over expression of HER2 proteins => increased cell division and growth

Question 7

What are tumour antigens called

Answer 7

Neoantigens

Question 8

What are neoantigens

Answer 8

Mutations in normal human proteins and recognised as ‘foreign’ by the immune system

Question 9

What are features of the CAR T cell structure

Answer 9

CARs lack TCRa(alpha) and B(beta) chains
Single extracellular domain derived from immunoglobin VH and VL domains

Question 10

What is a feature of the CAR T cell intracellular cytoplasmic region

Answer 10

The intracellular cytoplasmic region contains co-stimulatory domains that enhance tumour killing activity of T cells