NSG 415 - IMMUNITY - MS & SYSTEMIC
LUPID ERYTHEMATOSUS. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
What is the role of the immune system response? - ANS Protects body from invasion of
microorganisms and other antigens
Removes dead and damaged tissue and cells
Recognizes and removes cell mutation that have demonstrated abnormal cell growth and
development
What are the 3 general lines of defense? - ANS Boundary surfaces: skin, mucous
membranes, enzymes, microbial flora
Non specific immunity: phagocytes, natural killer T lymphocytes, granulocytes, macrophages
Learned or acquired immunity: antibodies derived from B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
1
,Define autoimmune d/o - what is the cause? trigger? - ANS immune system loses self-
tolerance
This doesn't usually happen from a single cause. Instead, it emerges from an interaction of
genetics, environment, and immune dysregulation over time.
Can be triggered by toxins, medications, bacteria, and viruses
How autoimmunity comes to be - ANS 1) genetic susceptibility (vulnerable)
2) environmental trigger
3) loss of immune tolerance (autoreactive t cells are not deleted -> b cells produce
autoantibodies -> regulatory control weakens -> immune reprogram itself to self attack)
4) autoantibody production + chronic inflammation (attacks - autoantibodies bind to tissues ->
cytokines amplify inflammation -> ongoing tissue injury)
5) target-organ damage (lupus, rheumatoid, ms, dm1)
What are the labs? - ANS antinuclear antibodies (ANA) - antibodies that mistakenly target
a person's own cells; a screening marker for autoimmune activity
complement factors - immune proteins circulating the blood
measured as C3/C4 - DECREASE during autoimmune inflammation
What are the roles of C3 & C4? - ANS tag targets for destruction
2
, recruit inflammatory cells
amplify immune responses
directly damage cell membranes
What does a low and rising c3/c4 mean? - ANS low c3/c4 - active immune flare,
worsening organ involvement
rising c3/c4 - tx working, disease stabilizing
What is multiple sclerosis? - ANS neurologic autoimmune d/o
destroys myelin sheath - demyelination interrupts nerve impulse conduction and plaques form
leaving them unable to regenerate - IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE
What are the risk factors for MS? - ANS higher northern latitudes
vit D deficiency
smoking
obesity
Epstein Barr virus infection
female
3
LUPID ERYTHEMATOSUS. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
What is the role of the immune system response? - ANS Protects body from invasion of
microorganisms and other antigens
Removes dead and damaged tissue and cells
Recognizes and removes cell mutation that have demonstrated abnormal cell growth and
development
What are the 3 general lines of defense? - ANS Boundary surfaces: skin, mucous
membranes, enzymes, microbial flora
Non specific immunity: phagocytes, natural killer T lymphocytes, granulocytes, macrophages
Learned or acquired immunity: antibodies derived from B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
1
,Define autoimmune d/o - what is the cause? trigger? - ANS immune system loses self-
tolerance
This doesn't usually happen from a single cause. Instead, it emerges from an interaction of
genetics, environment, and immune dysregulation over time.
Can be triggered by toxins, medications, bacteria, and viruses
How autoimmunity comes to be - ANS 1) genetic susceptibility (vulnerable)
2) environmental trigger
3) loss of immune tolerance (autoreactive t cells are not deleted -> b cells produce
autoantibodies -> regulatory control weakens -> immune reprogram itself to self attack)
4) autoantibody production + chronic inflammation (attacks - autoantibodies bind to tissues ->
cytokines amplify inflammation -> ongoing tissue injury)
5) target-organ damage (lupus, rheumatoid, ms, dm1)
What are the labs? - ANS antinuclear antibodies (ANA) - antibodies that mistakenly target
a person's own cells; a screening marker for autoimmune activity
complement factors - immune proteins circulating the blood
measured as C3/C4 - DECREASE during autoimmune inflammation
What are the roles of C3 & C4? - ANS tag targets for destruction
2
, recruit inflammatory cells
amplify immune responses
directly damage cell membranes
What does a low and rising c3/c4 mean? - ANS low c3/c4 - active immune flare,
worsening organ involvement
rising c3/c4 - tx working, disease stabilizing
What is multiple sclerosis? - ANS neurologic autoimmune d/o
destroys myelin sheath - demyelination interrupts nerve impulse conduction and plaques form
leaving them unable to regenerate - IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE
What are the risk factors for MS? - ANS higher northern latitudes
vit D deficiency
smoking
obesity
Epstein Barr virus infection
female
3
