Autoimmunity: Causes, Mechanisms, and Clinical Manifestations

Question 1

Which characteristic is NOT typically associated with autoimmune diseases?

Accepted Answer

Absence of infectious agents

Answer

Immune response against self-antigens

Answer

Chronic inflammation

Question 2

What is a defining characteristic of autoimmune diseases?

Accepted Answer

Production of autoantibodies

Answer

Tolerance to self-antigens

Answer

Absence of inflammation

Answer

Complete recovery after treatment

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of autoimmune diseases?

Accepted Answer

Manifestations limited to a single organ or system

Answer

Immune response directed against self-antigens

Answer

Chronic inflammation

Answer

Genetic predisposition

Question 4

The concept of immunological tolerance refers to:

Accepted Answer

The suppression of immune responses against harmless antigens

Answer

The ability of the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self

Answer

The activation of immune responses against foreign pathogens

Answer

The development of memory cells for future immune responses

Question 5

Which type of T cell is primarily responsible for mediating delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions?

Accepted Answer

Th1 cells

Answer

Th2 cells

Answer

Th17 cells

Answer

Treg cells

Question 6

The destruction of pancreatic beta cells in type 1 diabetes is primarily mediated by:

Accepted Answer

Cytotoxic T cells

Answer

Natural killer cells

Answer

Macrophages

Answer

Autoantibodies

Question 7

Which of the following is a type IV hypersensitivity reaction?

Accepted Answer

Delayed contact dermatitis

Answer

Serum sickness

Answer

Anaphylaxis

Answer

Urticaria

Question 8

What is the role of regulatory T cells in immunological tolerance?

Accepted Answer

Suppressing immune responses

Answer

Activating effector T cells

Answer

Producing pro-inflammatory cytokines

Answer

Differentiating into memory cells

Question 9

Which of the following genetic factors is associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases?

Accepted Answer

HLA-DRB1 alleles

Answer

Sickle cell anaemia

Answer

Cystic fibrosis gene mutations

Answer

Huntington's disease gene mutation

Question 10

Which organ is primarily targeted in individuals with type 1 diabetes?

Accepted Answer

Pancreas

Answer

Kidney

Answer

Heart

Answer

Liver

Question 11

In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, which cytokine plays a key role?

Accepted Answer

TNF-alpha

Answer

IL-4

Answer

IL-10

Answer

IFN-gamma

Question 12

In type 1 diabetes, which specific cell type is targeted by autoreactive T cells?

Accepted Answer

Beta cells of the pancreas

Answer

Alpha cells of the pancreas

Answer

Hepatocytes of the liver

Answer

Myocytes of the heart

Question 13

Which type of immunological tolerance prevents self-reactivity within the immune system?

Accepted Answer

Central tolerance

Answer

Peripheral tolerance

Answer

Adaptive tolerance

Answer

Innate tolerance

Question 14

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), patients produce antibodies against their own nuclear components. What type of autoantibody is this?

Accepted Answer

Non-organ-specific autoantibody

Answer

Organ-specific autoantibody

Answer

Isotype-specific autoantibody

Answer

Idiotype-specific autoantibody

Question 15

Which of the following is a key clinical manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Symmetrical joint pain and swelling

Answer

Skin rash and photosensitivity

Answer

Neurological deficits

Answer

Renal failure

Question 16

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug commonly used in the management of autoimmune diseases. What is its primary mechanism of action?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of T cell proliferation

Answer

Induction of immune tolerance

Answer

Depletion of B cells

Answer

Suppression of cytokine production

Question 17

Genetic factors contribute significantly to the development of autoimmune diseases. Which of the following genes is strongly associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes?

Accepted Answer

HLA-DQ2

Answer

HLA-B27

Answer

HLA-DR3

Answer

HLA-A1

Question 18

In the context of autoimmunity, which type of immune cell is primarily responsible for the production of antibodies?

Accepted Answer

B cells

Answer

Natural killer cells

Answer

Macrophages

Answer

T cells

Question 19

The fundamental underlying cause of autoimmunity is:

Accepted Answer

Loss of immune tolerance

Answer

Increased production of autoantibodies

Answer

Impaired function of regulatory T cells

Question 20

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that primarily targets and destroys which cells within the pancreas?

Accepted Answer

β-cells

Answer

α-cells

Answer

Macrophages

Answer

Endothelial cells

Question 21

A defining characteristic of autoimmune diseases is the production of antibodies that target:

Accepted Answer

Self-antigens

Answer

Foreign antigens

Answer

Viral proteins

Question 22

Which of the following cytokines is a key mediator in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)

Answer

Interleukin-2 (IL-2)

Answer

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)

Answer

Interleukin-10 (IL-10)

Question 23

Which of the following is generally NOT considered a risk factor for developing autoimmune diseases?

Accepted Answer

Advanced age

Answer

Environmental triggers

Answer

Female sex

Answer

Family history

Question 24

Treatment options for autoimmune diseases commonly include:

Accepted Answer

Immunosuppressive drugs

Answer

Antihistamines

Answer

Vaccines

Answer

Antibiotics

Question 25

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects which part of the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Central nervous system

Answer

Somatic nervous system

Answer

Peripheral nervous system

Answer

Enteric nervous system

Question 26

Which of the following statements about autoimmunity is true?

Accepted Answer

Autoimmune diseases can affect multiple organ systems

Answer

Autoimmune diseases are only caused by genetic factors

Answer

Autoimmune diseases are always fatal