Inappropriate immune responses may be
(1) exaggerated against environmental antigens (allergy); (2) misdirected against the host’s own cells (autoimmunity); (3) directed against beneficial foreign tissues, such as transfusions or transplants (alloimmunity); or (4) be insufficient to protect the host (immune deficiency).
Hypersensitivity
is an altered immunologic response to an antigen that results in disease or damage to the host.
Hypersensitivity reactions can be classified in two ways:
by the source of the antigen that the immune system is attacking (allergy, autoimmunity, alloimmunity; and by the mechanism that causes disease (types I, II, III, and IV;
Allergy
deleterious effects of hypersensitivity to environmental antigens, and immunity means the protective responses to antigens expressed by disease-causing agents.
Autoimmunity
disturbance in the immunologic tolerance of self-antigens. The immune system normally does not strongly recognize the individual’s own antigens.
autoimmune diseases
occur when the immune system reacts against self-antigens to such a degree that the person’s own tissues are damaged by autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells
Alloimmunity (also termed isoimmunity)
occurs when the immune system of one individual produces a reaction against tissues of another individual. Alloimmunity can be observed during immunologic reactions against transfusions, transplanted tissue, or the fetus during pregnancy.
Most diseases caused by hypersensitivity develop because
interactions of at least three variables: (1) an original “insult,” which alters immunologic homeostasis (a steady state of tolerance to self-antigens or lack of immune reaction against environmental antigens); (2) the individual’s genetic makeup, which determines the degree of the resultant immune response from the effects of the insult; and (3) an immunologic process that causes the symptoms of the disease.
4 Mechanisms of Hypersensitivity
type I (immunoglobulin E [IgE]–mediated) hypersensitivity reactions, type II (tissue-specific) hypersensitivity reactions, type III (immune complex–mediated) hypersensitivity reactions, and type IV (cell-mediated) hypersensitivity reactions.
anaphylaxis.
most rapid and severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction.
Occurs within minutes of reexposure to the antigen and can be either systemic (generalized) or cutaneous (localized).
S/S itching, erythema, headaches, n/v, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, difficult breathing. Sever: contraction of bronchial smooth muscle, laryngeal edema & vascular collapse=shock & death.
Type I (IgE-mediated) hypersensitivity reactions
mediated by antigen-specific IgE and the products of tissue MAST CELLS (initiate and mediate)
Most common allergies (e.g., pollen allergies.The initial phase is characterized by vasodilation, vascular leakage, and, depending on the location, smooth muscle spasm or glandular secretions. These changes usually become evident within 5 to 30 minutes
EX: allergy to peanuts, anaphylaxis
cytotropic antibody
(part of type 1).
Antibody that binds to mast cells(able to bind to cell surfaces) or reagin (skin-sensitizing antibody)
The most potent mediator is
(Type 1 sensitivity)
Histamine. Acting through the H1 receptors, histamine contracts bronchial smooth muscles, causing bronchial constriction; increases vascular permeability, causing edema; and causes vasodilation increasing blood flow into the affected area.histamine with H2 receptors results in increased gastric acid secretion and a decrease of histamine released from mast cells and basophils.negative feed back mechanism that stops degranulation.
-important activity of histamine is enhancement of the chemotactic activity of other factors, such as eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A), which attracts eosinophils into sites of allergic inflammatory reactions and prevents them from migrating out of the inflammatory site.
Mast cells
(Type 1 sensitivity)
initiate synthesis of bioactive lipid-derived mediators, such as leukotrienes, platelet-activating factor (PAF), and prostaglandins.
Released much more slowly than histamine.
Can mediate similar, yet more prolonged, clinical symptoms, such as recruiting inflammatory cells (e.g., neutrophils, eosinophils), promoting vascular permeability and edema, inducing bronchoconstriction or rhinitis, and inducing further release of histamine from mast cells
Type II (tissue-specific) hypersensitivity reactions
characterized by a specific cell or tissue being the target of an immune response.
Symptoms of many type II diseases are determined by which tissue or organ expresses the particular antigen.
1-cell can be destroyed by antibody (IgG or IgM) and activation of the complement cascade through the classical pathway, damages the membrane and may result in lysis.
2-antibody may cause cell destruction through phagocytosis by macrophages.
3-antibody and complement may attract neutrophils that trigger phagocytosis
4-antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)- NK cells release toxic substances that destroy the target cell.
5-does not destroy the target cell, but rather causes it to malfunction.
EX: RH incompatible mother/baby, transfusion reaction.
type III (immune complex–mediated) hypersensitivity reactions
caused by antigen-antibody (immune) complexes that are formed in the circulation and deposited later in vessel walls or extravascular tissues, type III the antibody binds to soluble antigen that was released into the blood or body fluids, and the complex is then deposited in the tissues. (causing autoimmune diseases)
Not organ specific, harmful effects caused by complement activation. Nuetrophils attempt to ingest the immune complexes
EX: SLE, serum sichness,Raynauds, rheumatoid arthritis.
serum sickness
(Type 3)
systemic prototype of immune complex–mediated disease because it was initially described as being caused by the therapeutic administration of foreign serum, ex: after taking amoxicillin
S/S: fever, rash, joint pain
EX: Raynaud phenomenon, condition caused by the temperature-dependent deposition of immune complexes in the capillary beds of the peripheral circulation.
type IV (cell-mediated) hypersensitivity reactions
mediated by T lymphocytes and do not involve antibody, Tc cells attack and destroy cellular targets directly.
Th1 and Th17 cells produce
cytokines that recruit and activate phagocytic cells, especially macrophages. Destruction of the tissue is usually caused by direct killing by toxins from Tc cells or by the release of soluble factors, such as lysosomal enzymes and toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), from activated macrophages.
EX: Contact dermatitis from latex, graft rejection, rheumatoid arthritis(joint tissue), Hashimoto(thyroid), DM type 1(pancreatic beta cells)
Arthus reaction
(Type 3)
prototypic example of a localized immune complex–mediated inflammatory response.6 It is caused by repeated local exposure to an antigen that reacts with preformed antibody and forms immune complexes in the walls of the local blood vessels
clinical manifestations of type I reactions
biologic effects of histamine: tissues with large amounts of mast cells (GI, skin, respiratory)
Type 1 very common
primary mechanism of control is the autonomic nervous system. (target cells of inflammation)
Use of antihistamines
type IV allergic reaction
haptens that react with normal self-proteins in the skin. contact dermatitis that is confined to the area of contact with the allergen
Type II allergic hypersensitivities
usually against allergic haptens that bind to the surface of cells and elicit an IgG or IgM response.
Type III allergic reactions
occur after the formation of immune complexes containing soluble allergens
Tolerance
Tolerance is a state of immunologic control so that the individuals do not make a detrimental immune response against their own cells and tissues