Examples of disease-modifying drugs used to treat autoimmune disease include
- A. Corticosteroids
- B. Aspirin
- C. Anti-TNF-α
- D. C-cell depleting agents
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why choice C (Anti-TNF-α) is correct:
1. Anti-TNF-α drugs target specific molecules involved in autoimmune responses.
2. By inhibiting TNF-α, these drugs reduce inflammation and slow disease progression.
3. This makes them disease-modifying, as they alter the course of the autoimmune disease.
Summary of why other choices are incorrect:
A: Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory but not disease-modifying in autoimmune diseases.
B: Aspirin is primarily used for pain relief and reducing inflammation, not modifying the disease.
D: C-cell depleting agents are not commonly used for autoimmune diseases and do not target TNF-α.
You may also like to solve these questions
Which complement components are primarily involved in Type III hypersensitivity?
- A. C1 and C4
- B. C3a and C5a
- C. C5b and C6
- D. C2 and C7
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: C3a and C5a. In Type III hypersensitivity reactions, immune complexes form and deposit in tissues, leading to complement activation. C3a and C5a are anaphylatoxins released during complement activation, causing inflammation and tissue damage in Type III hypersensitivity.
Rationale:
A: C1 and C4 are primarily involved in Type I hypersensitivity reactions.
C: C5b and C6 are part of the membrane attack complex in the classical pathway of complement activation, not specific to Type III hypersensitivity.
D: C2 and C7 are involved in the classical pathway of complement activation but not directly implicated in Type III hypersensitivity reactions.
Defensins are
- A. Released by mast cells during an allergic reaction
- B. Membrane-disrupting peptides
- C. Acute phase proteins
- D. Opsonins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Membrane-disrupting peptides. Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that disrupt bacterial cell membranes. This disrupts the integrity of the bacterial cell, leading to cell lysis and death. Choice A is incorrect because mast cells release histamines, not defensins. Choice C is incorrect as acute phase proteins are involved in the immune response to inflammation. Choice D is incorrect as opsonins are molecules that enhance phagocytosis of pathogens by immune cells.
Viral antigenic shift
- A. Is caused by multiple random mutations
- B. Is caused by a single mutation
- C. It affects only internal viral proteins not recognized by preexisting antibodies
- D. It refers to the appearance of new HA variants not recognized by preexisting antibodies
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: Viral antigenic shift involves major changes in the surface proteins of the virus, particularly the hemagglutinin (HA) protein.
Step 2: These changes result in the emergence of new variants that are not recognized by preexisting antibodies.
Step 3: This process is distinct from antigenic drift, which involves minor changes due to random mutations.
Step 4: Choice D correctly states that viral antigenic shift refers to the appearance of new HA variants not recognized by preexisting antibodies.
Summary: Choice A is incorrect because viral antigenic shift is not caused by multiple random mutations. Choice B is incorrect as antigenic shift involves major changes, not a single mutation. Choice C is incorrect as it affects surface proteins like HA, not just internal proteins.
Amino acids are building blocks of
- A. Carbohydrates
- B. Nucleic acids
- C. Lipids
- D. Proteins
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Proteins. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins because they are linked together in a specific sequence to form protein chains. Proteins are essential for various biological functions in the body.
Incorrect options:
A: Carbohydrates - Carbohydrates are made up of sugar molecules, not amino acids.
B: Nucleic acids - Nucleic acids, like DNA and RNA, are made up of nucleotides, not amino acids.
C: Lipids - Lipids are composed of fatty acids and glycerol, not amino acids.
What is the primary function of anaphylotoxins (e.g., C3a, C4a, C5a) in the immune system?
- A. Suppressing inflammation
- B. Facilitating antigen presentation
- C. Inducing inflammation and recruiting immune cells
- D. Neutralizing pathogens
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Inducing inflammation and recruiting immune cells. Anaphylotoxins, such as C3a, C4a, and C5a, are small molecules that are released during complement activation. They play a crucial role in enhancing inflammation by attracting immune cells to the site of infection or injury.
1. Anaphylotoxins induce inflammation by stimulating the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators.
2. They promote vasodilation and increase vascular permeability, allowing immune cells to easily reach the affected area.
3. Anaphylotoxins also act as chemoattractants, recruiting neutrophils, macrophages, and other immune cells to the site of inflammation to help fight against pathogens.
4. These molecules do not suppress inflammation (choice A), facilitate antigen presentation (choice B), or neutralize pathogens (choice D). Their primary function is to amplify the immune response by inducing inflammation and recruiting immune cells to combat infections
Nokea