Immunological Tolerance and Autoimmunity Lecture Notes

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What are the two main types of autoimmune diseases mentioned in the text?

Organ specific and non-organ specific (correct)

Systemic and localized

Rheumatoid arthritis and Grave's disease

Genetic and environmental

Which genetic factor is associated with rheumatoid arthritis according to the text?

Superantigen production

HLA-DRB1 (correct)

Molecular mimicry

Vascular or cellular barriers

Which host factor makes some autoimmune diseases more common in females?

Gender (correct)

Alteration of self molecules

Infection disrupting peripheral tolerance

Damage to immunologically privileged sites

Which environmental factor can alter self molecules to become immunogenic?

Drugs, radiation, or chemicals Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism is a theoretical possibility where foreign and self-peptides have sequence similarities, leading to cross-activation of autoreactive cells?

Molecular mimicry Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of an autoantibody according to the text?

An antibody produced by the immune system that is directed against one or more of the individual's own proteins Signup and view all the answers

Where does central T cell tolerance occur?

In the fetal thymus Signup and view all the answers

What happens to T cells that fail to recognize and bind to self-MHC molecules during central tolerance?

They undergo apoptosis (non-selection) Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism is involved in peripheral T cell tolerance for autoreactive T cells that escape central tolerance?

Suppression by regulatory T cells producing inhibitory cytokines Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism is involved in central B cell tolerance?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of peripheral B cell tolerance?

Clonal anergy due to lack of T cell help Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an autoimmune disease?

An abnormal immune response against self-substances and tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is immunological tolerance?

A state of unresponsiveness of the immune system to substances or tissues that have the capacity to elicit an immune response Signup and view all the answers

Where does central tolerance occur?

In the bone marrow and thymus Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of T cell tolerance?

To prevent immune responses against self-antigens Signup and view all the answers

Why is it necessary for the immune system to discriminate between self and non-self?

To prevent autoimmune diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between central and peripheral tolerance?

Central tolerance occurs in the thymus and bone marrow, while peripheral tolerance occurs in other tissues and lymph nodes Signup and view all the answers

Why do developing lymphocytes express a large number of antigen receptors without bias towards specificity?

To ensure a diverse repertoire of receptors capable of recognizing a wide range of antigens Signup and view all the answers