IMI4: inflammation and autoimmune inflammation

Question 1

what protein activation result in the formationn of the inflammasome?

Answer 1

caspase-1 activation

Question 2

what is the main function of caspase-1?

Answer 2

IL-1beta and IL-18 activation

Question 3

what is proptosis?

Answer 3

form of ell death associtaded with cel lysis and inflammation

Question 4

what happens during proptosis?

Answer 4

cells swell
plasma membrane become leaky
inflammatory mediators (IL-1beta, IL-18, TNF, IL-6 and IL-8) are released
cleavage of a protein called gasdermin D which leads to membrane pores

Question 5

what are the characteristics of inflammation?

Answer 5

• accumulation of leukocytes, plasma proteins and fluid derived from blood at site of injury or infection
• circulating leukocytes and plasma proteins are recruited to the infection or damaged sites
• complement proteins, ab and acute phase response proteins enter the inflammatory site due to an increased blood flow and increased permeability of capillaries and venules

Question 6

are the changes in inflammation reversible?

Answer 6

yes

Question 7

what are the key characteristics of cytokines?

Answer 7

• produced mainly by macrophages and DCs and also by mast cells, emdothelial cells and some epithelial cells
• act mainly in paracrine fashion BUT in severe cases in an endocrine fashion
• have similar overlapping biological functions==>redundancy
• stimulate the transcription and activation of others
• are pleiotropic (=have several different roles)
• can be produces during innate responses BUT the same cytokines can also play roles in adaptive responses

Question 8

what are the 3 major pro-inflammatory cytokines?

Answer 8

tumour necrosis factor (TNF)
IL-1
IL-6

Question 9

hat are autoinflammatory diseases?

Answer 9

group of rare disease characterised by seemingly unprovoked episodes of fever and inflammation

Question 10

what are autoimmune diseases?

Answer 10

diseases that produce autoantibodies

Question 11

what are autoantibodies?

Answer 11

antibodies produced by the immune system that are directed against given individual’s one or more own proteins

Question 12

are autoimmune disease and auto inflammatory diseases the same?

Answer 12

no
auto inflammatory diseases activate the innate immune system without an apparent cause and autoimmune disease attack cells of our body

Question 13

what is amyloidosis?

Answer 13

serious condition caused by a build-up of amyloid protein in organs and tissues throughout the body

Question 14

what is the most common auto inflammatory disease?

Answer 14

familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)

Question 15

what are the different treatments for an auto inflammatory disease?

Answer 15

low doses of colchicine

and meds that target IL-1beta

Question 16

what does self-tolerance mean?

Answer 16

ability of the immune system to recognise self-antigens as safe while remaining able to recognise and mount an appropriate immune response to foreign substances which are perceived as threat

Question 17

what are the 2 mechanisms of self-tolerance regulation of immune effector cells? what do they consist of?

Answer 17

central tolerance which occurs in organ of maturation –> T cells and B cells that react to self-antigen are either deleted by apoptosis, become functionally inactive or undergo modulation of their antigen receptors
peripheral tolerance which occurs outside the site of maturation but at the site of antigen recognition where lymphocytes could begin to elicit an immune response