Autoimmune Diseases

autoimmunity

immune reactions to self antigens

what percentage of the population is affected by autoimmune diseases and what sex is it more common with?

2-5% of the population, women

what is the mechanism of humoral-mediated immunity?

antibody mediated

what is the cell type of humoral-mediated immunity?

B lymphocytes

what is the mode of action of humoral-mediated immunity?

antibodies circulating in serum

what is the purpose of humoral-mediated immunity?

primary defense against extracellular pathogens like extracellular bacteria and circulating viruses

what is the mechanism of cell-mediated immunity?

cell-mediated

what is the cell type of cell-mediated immunity?

T lymphocytes

what is the mode of action of cell-mediated immunity?

direct cell to cell contact or secreted soluble products like cytokines

what is the purpose of cell-mediated immunity?

primary defense against intracellular pathogens like viruses, fungi, intracellular bacteria, tumor antigens, and graft rejection

what is the cause of autoimmunity?

adaptive immunity is misdirected at healthy cells and tissues, there is a loss of tolerance to self antigens, so the immune system attacks our cells and tissues

what factors can lead to a person developing an autoimmune disease?

susceptibility genes that may interfere with self-tolerance and/or environmental triggers like infections, tissue injury, or inflammation

systemic lupus erythematosus

multisystem disease with autoantibodies directed against a number of nuclear antigens (ANA) as well as antigens of blood elements and phospholipid-protein complexes

acute onset- injury to skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes

chronic phase- presentation may be complex

seen more often in women

failure of the mechanisms that maintain self-tolerance

what does the histopathology of skin from a person suffering with systemic lupus erythematosus look like?

you can use H&E stain or IF, immune complex deposition will be visible, this is what induces the never ending inflammation

what is the pathophysiology of type I diabetes?

T cell mediated destruction of the Beta cells in pancreas

autoantigen to pancreatic beta cell antigen

what oral affliction is diabetes associated with higher rates of?

recurrent apthous somatitis (canker sores)

what is the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the general population?

0.5-1.0%

what are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

ulnar deviation of fingers, inflammation of multiple joints, joint deformity, pain (arthralgia), dysfunction

what is the autoantigen, consequence, and mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis?

autoantigen: unknown synovial joint antigen

consequence: joint inflammation and destruction

mechanism: T cell mediated inflammation and destruction

how many people does multiple sclerosis affect in the US and worldwide?

more than 350,000 in US and 2.5 million worldwide

what is the average age of onset of MS?

20-30 years old

is MS more prevalent in men or women?

women

what ancestry is more likely to develop MS?

northern european ancestry- incidence directly proportional to geographic distance from the equator and predisposition remains if a person moves to a lower incidence geographic site after 15 years old

what are some common clinical symptoms of MS?

early limb weakness, blurring of vision, incoordination, abnormal sensations

what is the autoantigen and consequence of MS?

autoantigen: myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein

consequence: demyelination, brain degeneration, paralysis

what are the main targets of sjogren’s syndrome?

lacrimal and salivary glands (affecting tear and saliva production), other secretory glands may also be involved

what is the autoantigen and consequence of sjogren syndrome?

autoantigen: unknown antigens in the ductal epithelial cells of the exocrine gland

consequence: destruction of the lacrimal and salivary glands which is devastating for eyes and moth

what will the histopathology of a patient with sjogren syndrome appear as?

intense lymphatic and plasma cell infiltration with ductal epithelial hyperplasia