Immunotherapies L30

Question 1

immunotherapy example in rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 1

TNF-A inhibitors
monoclonal antibodies targeting TNF-A and cytokine receptors
T cell therapy

Question 2

immunotherpay example in cancer

Answer 2

block using MAB to target specific cancers
MAB target specific proteins to deplete them
block/inhibit checkpoints to activate anti-tumour T cells
enhance CAR-T cell tech and personalised medicines

Question 3

TNF-A

Answer 3

this is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation
produced by activated macrophages
is a pyrogen and can induce fever, cell death and inflammation
overproduction can cause many disease

Question 4

how the immune system controls cancer

Answer 4

Cancer Immunosurveillance.

Immune cells recognize abnormal antigens on cancer cells called tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or neoantigens

Question 5

Which immune cells are involved in killing cancer?

Answer 5

CD8+ T cells – kill tumor cells via perforin/granzymes
NK cells – target cells with low MHC I
Macrophages (M1) – pro-inflammatory, can kill tumors
Dendritic cells – present tumor antigens to T cells

Question 6

What are tumor antigens?

Answer 6

Neoantigens – mutated self-proteins, recognized as foreign
Presented on MHC I, activate CD8+ cytotoxic T cells

Question 7

What are immune checkpoints?

Answer 7

Proteins like CTLA-4 and PD-1 that inhibit T-cell activity. Cancer cells exploit them to avoid immune attack.

Question 8

How do immune checkpoint inhibitors work?

Answer 8

Monoclonal antibodies block PD-1 or CTLA-4, boosting T cell activity against tumors.

Question 9

What is CAR T cell therapy?

Answer 9

T cells are engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target specific cancer antigens → enhanced killing.

Question 10

How can cancer evade the immune system?

Answer 10

Downregulates MHC I
Secretes immunosuppressive cytokines (e.g., TGF-β)
Activates immune checkpoints (PD-L1 expression)

Question 11

What are the three phases of cancer immunoediting?

Answer 11

Elimination – immune system destroys cancer cells
Equilibrium – surviving cancer cells persist without growing
Escape – cancer evades immune response and proliferates

Question 12

What is a CAR-T cell?

Answer 12

: A genetically engineered T cell with a synthetic receptor (CAR) that targets tumor antigens.

Question 13

: Key components of a CAR structure?

Answer 13

Single-chain variable fragment (scFv)
Transmembrane domain
Intracellular activation and co-stimulatory domains