IMMUNO; Lecture 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - Hypersensitivity, Transplantation, Tolerance and Autoimmunity, Tumour immunology and immunotherapy of cancer, Inflammatory dermatoses Flashcards
(155 cards)
Immuno
When do appropriate immune reactions occur and what do they involve?
To foreign harmful agents = viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites -> concomitant tissue damage as side effect, but as long as pathogen removed quickly, then minimal and easily repaired. Involve antigen recognition by cells of immune system and Ab production
Immuno
What is appropriate immune tolerance and what does it involve?
Occurs to self and other harmless proteins (food, pollens, plant proteins, animal proteins). Involves Ag recognition and generation of Treg and regulatory Ab production (IgG4) -> sense of ‘danger’ cna lead to tolerance (if none) and reactivity (if present)
Immuno
When do hypersensitivity reactions occur?
When IR are mounted against -> foreign Ag (allergy, contact hypersensitivity), autoAg (AI disease), alloantigens (serum sickness, transfusion reactions, graft rejections)
Immuno
What are the classifications of hypersensitivity reactions?
I = immediate hypersensitivity; II = Ab-dependent cytotoxicity; III = immune complex mediated; IV = delayed cell mediated -> I-III depend on interaction of Ag with Ab; IV involves T cell recognition and because of longer time scale = delayed type hypersensitivity
Immuno
Which diseases have Type I immediate hypersensitivity?
Anaphylaxis, asthma, rhinitis (seasonal and perennial), food allergy
Immuno
What is the mechanism of action of type I immediate hypersensitivity?
1ry Ag exposure -> IgE production, sensitisation not tolerance, IgE binds to mast cells and basophils; 2ry Ag exposure -> more IgE is produced, Ag cross-links with basophils/mast cells and degranulation occurs
Immuno
What is the clinical presentation of Type II Ab-dependent hypersensitivity?
Depends on target tissue -> organ specific AI disease [myasthenia gravis (anti-ACh R Ab), glomerulonephritis (anti-glomerular basement membrane Ab), pemphigus vulgaris (anti-epithelial cell cement protein Ab), pernicious anaemia (IF blocking Ab)] and AI cytopenias (thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia and neutropenia - Ab mediated blood cell destruction)
Immuno
How do you test for Type II sensitivity?
Test for specific autoAb, immunofluourescence, ELISA (anti-CCP for Rheumatoid arthritis)
Immuno
What is the mechanism of Type III Immune complex mediated hypersensitivity?
Formation of Ag-Ab complexes in blood, deposition of the complexes in tissue, complement and cell recruitment/activation, activation of other cascades and clotting leading to tissue damage (vasculitis - commonly in renal, skin, joints and lung) = e.g. SLE, Vasculitides (polyarteritis nodosum)
Immuno
Which diseases have Type IV delayed hypersensitivity response?
Chronic graft rejection, graft vs host disease, coeliac, contact hypersensitivity, asthma, rhinitis, eczema
Immuno
What is the mechanism of Type IV hypersensitivity?
Th1 = gamma interferon and is important in most hypersensitivity reactions; Th2 releases IL-4,5 and 13, mediating allergic inflammation (asthma, rhinitis and eczema)

Immuno
How can you distinguish between hypersensitivity types 1-3?
All mediated by Ab and distinguished by type of Ag that they recognise. Type 2 recognises cell surface/matrix bound antigens; type 3 soluble Ag
Immuno
Summarise the 4 types of hypersensitivities?
x

Immuno
What is inflammation?
Body’s response to tissue injury, rapid attempt to bring body’s defences to the site of injury and once immune cells reach the site of damage then release cytokines that lead to features of inflammation
Immuno
What are the features of inflammation?
Vasodilation, increased blood flow, increased vascular permeability (C3a, C5a, histamine and leukotrienes), inflammatory mediators and cytokines, inflammatory cells and tissue damage -> with redness, heat, pain and swelling
Immuno
Which cell mediators are used in inflammation?
C3a, C5a, histamine and leukotrienes cause increased vascular perm; cytokines = IL-1,6,2, TNF, IFN-gamma; chemokines = IL-8/CXCL8, IP-10/CXCL10
Immuno
Which inflammatory cells infiltrate and take part in inflammation?
Cell trafficking by chemotaxis; neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, mast cells -> cell activation is caused
Immuno
What is atopy?
Form of allergy where there is a hereditary or constitutional tendency to develop hypersensitivity reactions in response to allergens -> very common, in 50% of YA in UK -> risk factors = genetic and environmental
Immuno
How does severity of atopy vary?
Mild, occasional symptoms, severe chronic asthma, life threatening anaphylaxis
Immuno
What are the genetic risk factors for atopy?
x

Immuno
What are the environmental risk factors for atopy?
x

Immuno
What are the types of inflammation in allergy and which type of hypersensitivity caused it?
x

Immuno
What is needed to express a disease?
Development of sensitisation to allergens instead of developing tolerance; exposure to produce disease (memory response)
Immuno
How does sensitisation in atopic airway disease occur?
Naive T cells haven’t seen the Ag; when CD4+ Tcells are activated by APC hey become specific to Ag and become -> Th1 (IFN-g), Th2 (activate B cells) and i Ag is harmless then become Treg















































































