Immunology Stack Slackers Facts by Mike Ori

Disclaimer The information represents my understanding only so errors and omissions are probably rampant. It has not been vetted or reviewed by faculty. The source is our class notes. The document can mostly be used forward and backward. I tried to mark questionable stuff with (?). If you want it to look pretty, steal some crayons and go to town. Finally… If you’re a gunner, buck up and do your own work.

SLE antibodies

Anti-phospholipid Anti-smith Anti-dsDNA

SLE mortality factors

Short term: active disease (renal) and infection Long term: chronic renal failure, heart failure, malignancies, infection

SLE treatment

Immune suppression with cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids

Rheumatoid arthritis antibodies

RF

What is Rheumatoid Factor?

IgM antibodies directed against an immunoglobin such as IgG

RA description

Autoimmune attack on synovium leads to synovial overgrowth (fronding) onto articular cartilage causing irreversible joint destruction and malformation.

Other RA affected areas

Nodules in soft tissue, inflammation of the eye, vasculitis.

RA Immune cell involvement

CD4+ T and B cell infiltrates into joins with lymphoid follicle formation

Sjogren syndrome antibodies

Anti-SS-A/Ro Anti-SS-B/La

Sjogren description

Autoimmune destruction of exocrine gland epithelium particularly that of the salivary and lacrimal glands. Formation of germinal centers is possible.

Sjogren cells

CD4+ cells. NOTE: Although ab are present, they do not appear to be the principle cause of the damage. (Robbins)

Sjogren’s linked disease

40x increased risk of B cell lymphoma

Scleroderma Ab

Anti-scl 70 Anti-nucleolar

Systemic sclerosis (Sceroderma) description

Progressive fibrosis located throughout the body particularly the skin and to a lesser extent the GI tract, kidneys, heart, muscles, and lungs.

Scleroderma cells

CD4+ T cells activate fibroblasts through unknown mechanisms.

Systemic Vasculitis Antibodies

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antigen (ANCA)

Systemic vasculitis description

Immune response that results in either the deposition of Ab/Ag complexes or the binding of Ab in situ to elements of the endothelium. This results in a range of diseases involving the vasculature including wegener granulomatosis and churg-strauss. The reaction may range from mild to fatal.

Systemic vasculitis causes

Drugs and viruses