Immune Mechanisms

Question 1

What are 4 ways to therapeutically target the immune system?

Answer 1

AIT (allergen specific immunotherapy)
Biologics
Histamine
Microbiome

Question 2

What are some limitations of Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT)

Answer 2

Side effects, compliance, lack of efficacy in in non responders

Question 3

What are 6 domains to see how good an AIT trial is?

Answer 3

1. Measuring IgA abd IgG
2. Basophil activation
3. IgE responses (not that good, will increase at beginning and only reduce as a percentage)
4. Cellular markers
5. > Facilitated < antigen binding
6. In vivo markers eg lactic acid

Question 4

What are some stages that can overlap in AIT

Answer 4

Desensitisation OR tolerance

(Remission sustained = unresponsiveness, it is not tolerable as most will respond again. No clear markers this stage is happening)

Question 5

Does allergic rhinitis increase asthma risk?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

What are biologic agents (biologicals)?

Answer 6

Large molecular-weight therapeutics that are synthesised by LIVING ORGANISMS

(e.g. monoclonal antibodies mAb
Vaccines, blood components)

Question 7

What’s a hybridoma

Answer 7

It’s when antibody-forming/producing cells that have desired antibodies (as these cells have finite life) are merged with tumour cells - as tumour cells live forever. The ones with the right traits (live forever, have the APC) are pulled/extracted- these are hybridomas.

Question 8

What’s a hybridoma

Answer 8

It’s when antibody-forming/producing cells that have desired antibodies (as these cells have finite life) are merged with tumour cells - as tumour cells live forever. The ones with the right traits (live forever, have the APC) are pulled/extracted- these are hybridomas.

Question 9

In asthma, are there approved biologicals for asthma?

Answer 9

Yes, 5 approved.
3/5 block IL-5 (but in different ways)
1/5 blocks…
1/5 does…

Maybe in the future, blocking a few pathways would be better.