Immunity: Auto-Immune Diseases

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition.  Many people get eczema and psoriasis mixed up.  Although their symptomsSubjective experiences reported by the patient (e.g., nausea, fatigue). are the same, they are very different in terms of the mechanism of action. A dendritic cell in the dermisThe thick inner layer of the skin that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. just decides that it’s going to release a specific interleukin, IL-23.  This interleukin then activates a very particular type of T cell in nearby lymph nodes.  This T cell does two things, it migrates to the dermis and it releases a specific interleukin, IL-17.  IL-17 activates keratinocytesThe most abundant cells in the epidermis, responsible for producing keratin. and programs them to die.  This premature death is what leads to the scales of psoriasis as dead skinThe body’s largest organ, providing protection and regulation. builds up.  Now.  Here comes the positive feedbackA control mechanism that amplifies a change instead of reversing it. of psoriasis.  That one little activated keratinocyte releases a cytokine. It increases the activity of dendritic cellsImmune cells in the epidermis that help fight infections. in the area. It also increases the activity of that T helper cell. So, now the cellsThe basic structural and functional units of life. are signaling each other in a never-ending cycle.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is also an auto-immune disease.  In rheumatoid arthritis some unknown trigger promotes inflammation in a synovial membrane lining a joint cavity.  Leukocytes like neutrophils are attracted to the area.  Once there, they are activated by a helper T cell that thinks there is a pathogen. This helper T cell is running around screaming the sky is falling.  It’s activating macrophages and everyone is making cytokines when there is no pathogen.  The cytokines make local fibroblasts secrete a substance that activate osteoclasts.  These osteoclasts break down the joint cartilageA flexible connective tissue found in joints, the ear, nose, and rib cage. Cartilage can be of three.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is also an auto-immune disease.  This one is a bit more humorally regulated which is why Celiac’s disease can sometimes be considered an allergy.  It is, essentially a gluten allergy.  As shown, gluten provokes a few responses. All of these responses start with a helper CD4 T cell that is primed to be anti-gluten.  This one helper cell activates B cells, dendritic cells, and other CD4 helper cells.  All these cells release cytokines, recruiting more cells to this inappropriate response to an allergen.  The B cells differentiate into plasma cellsImmune cells that develop from B cells and produce antibodies. and make antibodies.  This aspect of making antibodies against gluten is just an allergic response.  This just makes me wonder if human were ever meant to eat gluten.

Cancer

Cancer is most definitely an autoimmune disease. Cancers that result in tumors usually have their own microenvironment. This makes destruction difficult. It is especially challenging when trying to target destruction with a certain drug. These drugs motivate specific immune cells. There are two general types of chemotherapeutic drugs for tumors. As you can see here 1 motivates cells that will specifically kill the tumor itself. Other drugs motivate cells that suppress the tumor microenvironment. These also affect any substances that the tumor might be secreting into circulation. Immune suppression chemotherapeutic drugs are used for non tumorous cancers such as lymphomas leukemias and myelomas. These immunotherapeutic chemotherapy drugs are incredibly similar to many of the other immune suppressing drugs that are on the market. In factA statement based on direct observation that is repeatedly confirmed., drugs such as rimtuximab can be used for myeloma. They can also be used carefully for gut biota autoimmune diseases.

Cancer

Myeloma is a cancerous condition. In this condition, a plasmaThe liquid component of blood. cell continues to pump out abnormal antibodies. These antibodies can be of any of the five heavy chain types M, A, D, G, or E.  Myeloma plasma cells secrete abnormal immunoglobulin, known as an M protein. They can also start to secrete light chains. Kappa and Lambda light chains then accumulate in the plasma. This accumulation causes horrendous symptoms associated with abnormally high blood viscosityThe thickness or resistance to flow in a fluid, such as blood.. Initially, it usually manifests with visual disturbances. Blood can’t perfuse into the tiny capillariesThe smallest blood vessels where gas, nutrient, and waste exchange occurs between blood and tissues. of the eye.  One immunotherapy for myeloma brings together T cells and myeloma cells.  This trispecific antibody binds with a T cell. It activates the T cell to kill the myeloma cell attached to the other arm of the immunoglobulin.  I feel like this drug is saying, :you two should meet!”