immuno Flashcards
(408 cards)
What would a C1 protein deficieny cause?
C1 inhibitor (C1-INH) protein deficiency
causes hereditary angioedema
C1-INH is a multifunctional serine protease inhibitor
probable mechanism is uncontrolled release of bradykinin resulting in oedema of tissues
What would a C5 deficiency cause?
C5-9 deficiency
encodes the membrane attack complex (MAC)
particularly prone to Neisseria meningitidis infection
What does IL-6 do?
Endogenous pyrogen
Stimulates acute phase protein production
Also secreted by Th2
What is the major chemotactic factor for neutrophils?
IL-8
Describe the basic process of antigen recognition in the lymph node
Dendrite phagocytoses pathogen
Undergoes ‘licensing’ and upregulates CCR7 (chemotactic receptor) that sends them to the spleen or lymph node
In paracortex of spleen LN, activates the naive t-cell to either CD8 killer or memory cell or
CD4 (TH1, Th2, Th17, T-reg, or TFH)
What are the roles of, and cytokines required for differentiation of activated CD4+ T-Cells?
Th1 - activates macrophages via IFN-gamma, activates B-Cells. Requires IL-12 and IFN-gamma to become this.
Th2. Recruits and activates granulocytes. Requires IL-4 to become this.
TFH (T follicular helper). Allows B-Cells to differentiate, class switch, and proliferate with help of Th1 or Th2. Requires IL-6 alone.
T-Reg. Regulates T-cells by inhibiting immature dendrite entry into the lymph node. Requires IGF-B alone.
Th17. Secretes IL-17, causes epithelial cells to recruit more leukocytes to the affected area. Requires IGF-B and IL-6 to become this.
What does CD4+ Th1 do?
Th1 -
activates macrophages via IFN-gamma, activates B-Cells.
Secretes IFN-gamma and TNF-_beta_
Requires IL-12 and IFN-gamma to become this.
What does CD4+ Th2 do?
Th2.
Recruits and activates granulocytes (mast cells and eosinophils) and B-cells.
Secretes IL-4 (autocrine), IL-5 (eosinophils & mast cells), IL-6 (major inflam mediator) IL-10, and IL-13
Requires IL-4 to become this.
What does CD4+ Th17 do?
Secretes IL-17, causes epithelial cells to recruit more leukocytes to the affected area. Requires IGF-B and IL-6 to become this.
What does CD4+ T-reg do?
Regulates T-cells by inhibiting immature dendrite entry into the lymph node. Requires IGF-B alone.
What does CD4+ TFH (T follicular helper) do?
Allows B-Cells to differentiate, class switch, and proliferate with help of Th1 or Th2. Requires IL-6 alone.
What is the general mechanism of severe combined immunodeficiency?
Most cases of SCID are due to mutations in the gene encoding the common gamma chain (γc), a protein that is shared by the receptors for interleukins IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21. These interleukins and their receptors are involved in the development and differentiation of T and B cells. Because the common gamma chain is shared by many interleukin receptors, mutations that result in a non-functional common gamma chain cause widespread defects in interleukin signalling. The result is a near complete failure of the immune system to develop and function, with low or absent T cells and NK cells and non-functional B cells.
OR
Janus kinase-3 (JAK3) is an enzyme that mediates transduction downstream of the γc signal. Mutation of its gene causes SCID
What are the general features of severe combined immunodeficiency?
- absence of functional t-lymphocytes
- defective antibody response as t-cells can’t kill or activate B-cell
- most severe form of primary immunodeficiency
- known as the ‘bubble boy disease’
- severe infections of all types
- BMT is tx, it’s rare.
What is the mechanism of the second most commonest form of SCID?
- defective enzyme, adenosine deaminase (ADA)
- necessary for the breakdown of purines.
- causes accumulation of dATP –> inhibition of the activity of ribonucleotide reductase, the enzyme that reduces ribonucleotides to generate deoxyribonucleotides.
Without functional ribonucleotide reductase, lymphocyte proliferation is inhibited and the immune system is compromised.
What does IL-3 do?
- stimulates myeloid progenitor cells or lymphoid (with IL-7) progenitors - works just like GM-CSF
- secreted by activated T-cells and basophils
Describe the process of B-cell activation in the presence of antigen
- B-Cell MHC2 presents antigen to T-helper cell TCR
- CD40 is coexpressed on the B-Cell and attaches to the CD40 ligand on the Thelper which stimulates B-cell proliferation and differentiation
- T-cell releases IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6 which also activates the B-cell in the dark zone of the germinal centre.
- The immature B-Cell undergoes somatic hypermutation (alteration of binding specificity and affinity of resultant antibodies) and affinity maturation (only the high affinity antibodies survive) and turns into a centroblast.
- The centroblast expresses CXRCR4 and CXCR5 which attract it to chemokines in the light zone where it becomes a centrocyte.
- Once in the light zone, they die if they’re of low affinity mutation, if high, the T-helper follicular cells will bind it and signal it to class switch, differentiate, and proliferate.
- Either becomes Memory B-Cell (IgG), or to plasma cell (which goes to the BM and secrete antibodies).
What are the three main roles of antibodies?
Neutralisation - prevents pathogen adhesion
Opsonization - promotes phagocytosis
Complement activation –> activates MAC destruction
What is Pathogen Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)?
All bugs have it, allows leukocytes to recognise it and start immune response.
Local mast cells will also release histamine in the presence of PAMP
Local macropahges will release cytokines too –> blood vessels will extrude monocytes into the tissues where they become macrophages, and neutrophils
What is diapedesis?
The process through which neutrophils extrude through the blood vessels (migrate)
How does opsonisation occur?
Plasmin and kinin activate complement cascade which then either opsonise the pathogen allowing easily elimination by phagocytes, or destroy the pathogen by rupturing it’s membrane.
How does the innate immune system recognise pathogens?
Specific PAMPs - only on pathogenic microbes - LPS, lipoproteins, peptidoglycans, lipoprotease, and lipotechoic acids (LTAs) are some examples.
They can be cell wall, flagella, or even DNA/RNA and are essential for pathogen survival.
via Pathogen Recognition Receptors
3 types - intracellular, extracellular, or secretory (for tagging) and all trigger the innate response (phagocytosis, opsonisation, complement, release cytokines and inflammatory mediators)
Describe the extracellular pathogen receptor protein
Sits on innate immune cells i.e. macrophages.
- binds PAMP (i.e. cell wall)
- tells cell to engulf pathogen and release lysosomic granules - this is done by mannose and scavenger receptors
- OR signals nucleus to release cytokines/IFNs (if virus has invaded the cell) via toll-like-receptors
Describe the intracellular cellular pathogen receptor protein
Sits inside innate immune cells i.e. macrophages.
- most famous is the nod-like receptor
- cell gets infected by pathogen ie virus
- releases cytokines
- aptoptoses if fully infected
Describe the secreted cellular pathogen receptor protein
Secreted by the liver and immune cells
Once secreted, no relation to those cells
Activates complement cascade via complementary receptors