d) Non-reactivity to self
Rationale: Immune tolerance refers to the immune system’s ability to not respond to certain antigens. Immunization can be used to induce this non-reactivity to self, thereby training the immune system to avoid responding to its own body’s cells and proteins.
c) Thymus
Rationale: Central tolerance involves the elimination of self-reactive lymphocytes. For T cells, this process primarily takes place in the thymus.
c) Bone marrow
Rationale: Central tolerance involves the elimination of self-reactive B cells primarily in the bone marrow.
c) Regulatory T cells
Rationale: Regulatory T cells, often referred to as Tregs, are essential for maintaining peripheral tolerance by ensuring a balance between different immune responses and preventing harmful autoimmune reactions.
b) Autoimmune diseases
Rationale: Th1 cells release proinflammatory cytokines and are major mediators of autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells.
b) Non-inflammatory cytokines
Rationale: Th2 cells are known to release cytokines that are not primarily inflammatory and are often involved in counteracting the proinflammatory response of Th1 cells.
b) Autoimmune diseases
Rationale: Loss of immune tolerance means the immune system might start reacting against self-antigens, which can lead to autoimmune diseases where the body attacks its own cells and tissues.
b) Antibody diversity
Rationale: The immune system’s ability to randomly generate various antibody sites ensures a wide range of antibody diversity, allowing it to recognize and combat a vast array of antigens.
c) Autoimmune diseases
Rationale: If the immune system reacts with self-antigens, it can mistakenly attack the body’s own cells and tissues, leading to autoimmune diseases.
a) Th1
Rationale: Th1 cells respond to foreign antigens by releasing proinflammatory cytokines to combat the perceived threat.
c) To maintain homeostasis
Rationale: Autoantibodies in healthy individuals can serve a regulatory function and play a role in maintaining homeostasis, ensuring the body’s internal environment remains stable.
b) Natural mechanism
Rationale: Aged red cells are naturally removed from human circulation to maintain the health and functionality of the bloodstream.
b) Th2
Rationale: Th2 cells are involved in immune responses against parasites and are also associated with allergic reactions.
d) Immune tolerance
Rationale: Immune tolerance refers to the immune system’s ability to differentiate between foreign invaders and its own body, preventing it from attacking its own cells and proteins.
d) Liver
Rationale: Central tolerance involves the thymus (for T cells) and bone marrow (for B cells) in the elimination of self-reactive lymphocytes. The liver is not directly involved in this process.
c) Autoantibodies or autoreactive cells
Rationale: Autoimmune diseases result from the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues, which is mediated by autoantibodies or autoreactive cells.
c) CD4 helper T-cells
Rationale: In autoimmune diseases, self-reactive CD4 helper T-cells are generally associated with inducing either cell-mediated or antibody-mediated autoimmune reactions.
c) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Rationale: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) affects multiple organ systems, classifying it as a systemic autoimmune disease, whereas the others are more organ-specific.
b) Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Rationale: RA is primarily treated with anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and pain associated with the condition.
d) Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Rationale: In Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the immune system targets the thyroid cells, leading to an inability of the thyroid gland to produce sufficient thyroid hormones.
b) Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Thymectomy
Rationale: Myasthenia Gravis patients benefit from cholinesterase inhibitors (to improve muscle function) and thymectomy (removal of the thymus gland, which often shows abnormalities in these patients).
b) Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Rationale: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) targets the central nervous system, leading to inflammation, damage, and scarring of the myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord.
c) Plasmapheresis
Rationale: Plasmapheresis is a process that filters the blood to remove harmful antibodies or other components, and it’s used in certain autoimmune conditions like SLE and GBS.
a) Myasthenia Gravis
Rationale: Myasthenia Gravis involves the production of antibodies that block or destroy muscle receptor sites, leading to a decline in muscle communication and resultant muscle weakness.