Hypersensitivity Types III-IV - Hunter Flashcards
(37 cards)
Type III Hypersensitivity is mediated by what antibody?
IgG
Type III Hypersensitivity causes what kind of diseases?
Immune complex diseases
What organs are particularly sensitive to build up of immune complexes?
The kidneys
Name 4 categories of mechanisms leading to immune complex diseases.
- persistent infections involving microbial antigens
- injected antigen such as drugs or biologics
- inhaled antigens such as molds, spores and chemicals
- autoimmunity involving self antigens and chronic diseases
Do immune complexes form in most infections?
yes
Are immune complexes usually removed?
Yes, via complement but the removal system can become overwhelmed.
What are the main determinants of pathology in immune complex diseases?
Route and dose of antigen delivery.
If given a high dose of intravenous antigen what happens?
Immune complexes form and they can:
- it can deposit in small vasculature and cause vasculitis.
- it can deposit in the renal glomeruli and cause nephritis.
- it can deposit in the vasculature of joint spaces and cause arthritis.
When immune complexes deposit what can happen?
They can lead to the fixing of complement and inflammation causing vascular and tissue damage.
Small areas of vascular damage caused by immune complexes result in what?
Petichiae hemmorhages
When large areas of petichiae come together to form large bloody areas this is called what?
purpura
Subcutaneous routes of antigen delivery can lead to what?
Deposit of immune complexes in perivascular spaces leading to the arthrus reaction.
Inhaled routes of antigen delivery can lead to what?
Deposit of immune complexes at the alveolar/capillary interface causing Farmer’s lung.
Immune complexes are formed over time. Describe this process.
Early in infection when there is antigen excess, small complexes form that do not fix complement and are not readily cleared. These deposit in the vasculature. During mid-infection large complexes form, these fix complement and are cleared rapidly. Late in infection when there is antibody excess, intermediate complexes form that can fix complement. These are cleared.
What do immune complexes bind to and how are they cleared?
After complement has caused C3b and C4b to adhere to the antigen, these can be recognized by CR1 receptor on RBC’s. The RBC and complex travel to the spleen and liver where they are removed via splenic macrophages or liver Kupffer cells. The immune complexes are destroyed and the RBC returns to circulation.
Where is CR1 located?
CR1 is a receptor that recognizes C3b and C4b on immune complexes. It is located on the surface of RBC’s.
What is the type of receptor that is located on splenic macrophages and Liver Kupffer cells that binds to immune complexes?
The Fc receptor.
The system of immune complex clearing normally works well but can break down in what situations?
Complement deficiency, overwhelming infections with large amounts of antigen, and persistent infections leading to complement depletion.
What influences where immune complexes will deposit?
Hemodynamic factors that favor deposition such as you would find in the renal glomerulus and also can happen in arteries in spots of bifurcation where the bifurcation has caused turbulence and the immune complex can get to the basement membrane of the vasculature. Also, immune complexes tend to deposit in small vasculature.
Describe the steps of immune complex deposition and how it leads to immunopathology.
- immune complexes form and travel throughout the body in the blood stream
- if it reaches small vasculature and/or if the hemodynamic conditions are right it may deposit and begin to aggregate
- the complexes are recognized as foreign and complement is triggered
- anaphylatoxins are released and they trigger inflammatory processes
- neutrophils show up but cannot phagocytose the big, imbedded aggregates and instead they release their granules
- the result is tissue destruction
If immune complexes cause tissue destruction in the kidney what will result?
Hematuria and proteinuria and possible scarring of the kidney.
Name a persistent infection in which immune complexes can form and lead to kidney damage.
Chronic Hepatitis B.
Can viral infections lead to immune complex deposition?
yes
Local injection of antigen in idividuals with high levels of pre-existing antibodies can cause what?
An Arthus reaction.