29 Questions
What is the term used to describe the breakdown of self-tolerance leading to tissue damage and disease?
Autoimmunity
Where does central tolerance occur in the body?
Bone marrow and thymus
What happens to mature lymphocytes during peripheral tolerance?
They undergo anergy
Which organs are considered as primary lymphoid organs?
Bone marrow and thymus
What is hypothyroidism?
Underactive thyroid gland
What is the term for the absence of the normal immune response to a particular antigen or allergen?
Anergy
What can trigger the development of autoimmunity?
Failure of intrinsic tolerance mechanisms and environmental triggers
What is the main role of gene knockout technology in mice in the study of autoimmunity?
Expanding knowledge of pathways contributing to autoimmunity
How can infectious agents contribute to the development of autoimmunity?
By breaking self-tolerance and expressing antigens resembling host molecules
What is the distinction between organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases?
Organ-specific diseases are restricted to specific organs, while systemic diseases affect many tissues
What do immuno-privileged sites represent?
Sites where immune responses to allo- and autoantigens are reduced
What do alloantigens refer to?
Antigens found in different human blood groups
Why are antigens sequestered in immunologically privileged sites often targets of autoimmune attack?
Because their release can lead to autoimmunity
'Molecular mimicry' refers to which phenomenon?
Pathogens expressing antigens that resemble host molecules
Which type of autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis an example of?
Organ-specific autoimmune disease
What is the term for the phenomenon in which immature lymphocytes encounter self-antigens in the primary lymphoid organs and consequently die or become unreactive?
Central tolerance
What occurs when mature lymphocytes, having escaped central tolerance, encounter self-antigens in secondary lymphoid organs and undergo anergy, deletion, or suppression?
Peripheral tolerance
What is the term for the absence of the normal immune response to a particular antigen or allergen?
Anergy
What is the term used to describe the breakdown of self-tolerance leading to tissue damage and disease?
Autoimmunity
Where do primary lymphoid organs include special immune system cells called lymphocytes?
The bone marrow and the thymus
Which tissues are considered as secondary lymphoid organs?
The lymph nodes and the spleen
What is the term for the breakdown of self-tolerance leading to tissue damage and disease?
Autoimmunity
How can infectious agents contribute to the development of autoimmunity?
By inducing molecular mimicry
Which type of autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis an example of?
Organ-specific autoimmune disease
What do alloantigens refer to?
Antigens found in different members of the same species
'Molecular mimicry' refers to which phenomenon?
Expression of antigens resembling host molecules by infectious agents
Where does central tolerance occur in the body?
Thymus and bone marrow
What is hypothyroidism?
An organ-specific autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid gland
What is the term for the absence of the normal immune response to a particular antigen or allergen?
Tolerance
Study Notes
Autoimmunity and Immune Tolerance
- Autoimmunity refers to the breakdown of self-tolerance leading to tissue damage and disease.
- Central tolerance occurs in the primary lymphoid organs (thymus and bone marrow).
Immune Tolerance
- Tolerance can be divided into two types: central tolerance and peripheral tolerance.
- During peripheral tolerance, mature lymphocytes undergo anergy, deletion, or suppression when they encounter self-antigens in secondary lymphoid organs.
- The term for the absence of the normal immune response to a particular antigen or allergen is tolerance or immune tolerance.
Primary and Secondary Lymphoid Organs
- Primary lymphoid organs include the thymus and bone marrow, where special immune system cells called lymphocytes are produced.
- Secondary lymphoid organs include lymph nodes, spleen, and lymphoid tissues.
Autoimmune Diseases
- Hypothyroidism is an example of an autoimmune disease.
- Multiple sclerosis is an example of an organ-specific autoimmune disease.
- Autoimmune diseases can be categorized into two types: organ-specific and systemic.
Immuno-Privileged Sites and Alloantigens
- Immuno-privileged sites are tissues that are protected from the immune system, such as the brain and eyes.
- Alloantigens refer to antigens that come from a donor of the same species.
- Antigens sequestered in immunologically privileged sites are often targets of autoimmune attack.
Molecular Mimicry and Gene Knockout Technology
- Molecular mimicry refers to the phenomenon where the immune system mistakes a self-antigen for a foreign antigen, leading to an autoimmune response.
- Gene knockout technology in mice is used to study autoimmunity by knocking out specific genes involved in the immune response.
Infectious Agents and Autoimmunity
- Infectious agents can contribute to the development of autoimmunity by triggering the immune system to respond to self-antigens.
- Infectious agents can also trigger the development of autoimmunity through molecular mimicry.
Test your knowledge of autoimmunity and self-tolerance mechanisms with this quiz. Explore the concepts of immune response, self-antigens, and the breakdown of self-tolerance.
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