Question 1

Which of the following is an outcome of IL-1 release from activated immune cells?&#10;A) Cleavage of viral RNA&#10;B) Prevention of microbial growth&#10;C) Increased production of antibodies&#10;D) Downregulation of adhesion molecules

Accepted Answer

Following ingestion of a pathogen, macrophages secrete IL-1, which causes a rise in body temperature that inhibits microbial growth.

Question 2

Which is one disadvantage to cell-based anticancer vaccines?&#10;A) Vaccines often must be patient-specific.&#10;B) Vaccines may react with other host cells.&#10;C) Vaccines with live cells do not have long-lasting effects.&#10;D) Vaccines are less effective because they use allogeneic cells.

Accepted Answer

If a vaccine is cell-based, depending on the type of vaccine, it often must be patient-specific. This process would involve using some cells, possibly tumor cells, dendritic cells, or both, and preparing the vaccine using the patient's cells. This process is labor-intensive and expensive, but provides a vaccine that is very specific for that patient's tumor.

Question 3

What is one role that type I interferons play in the eradication of viral infections?&#10;A) Inhibit viral uncoating&#10;B) Inhibit viral protein synthesis&#10;C) Block viral entry into host cells&#10;D) Block release of viral progeny from host cells

Accepted Answer

Type I interferons inhibit synthesis of viral proteins and cleave viral RNA, which assists the immune system in eradication of viral infections.

Question 4

NY-ESO-1 would be a beneficial addition to a cancer vaccine because:&#10;A) It stimulates macrophages&#10;B) It stimulates the production NK cells&#10;C) It stimulates both CD4 and CD8 T cells&#10;D) It stimulates a strong antibody response

Accepted Answer

NY-ESO-1 is unique because it is able to stimulate both CD4 and CD8 T cells, providing a more vigorous anti-tumor response. Other tumor antigens are not able to stimulate both cell types.

Question 5

A defect in production of cryopyrin leads to:&#10;A) Increased synthesis of IL-2&#10;B) Increased synthesis of TNF&#10;C) Increased synthesis of IL-1b&#10;D) Increased synthesis of IL-1a

Accepted Answer

Patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) have a mutation in cryopyrin that leads to overproduction of IL-1b.

Question 6

Oprelvekin increases levels of:&#10;A) Platelets&#10;B) Neutrophils&#10;C) Macrophages&#10;D) Red blood cells

Accepted Answer

Oprelvekin is a recombinant IL-11 product that stimulates the production of platelets and is used to treat patients with thrombocytopenia due to a variety of causes.

Question 7

What is the mechanism of action of the sipuleucel-T prostate cancer vaccine?&#10;A) Dendritic cells are incubated with a fusion protein containing prostate specific antigen (PSA) and GM-CSF.&#10;B) A plasmid that codes for an antibody that expresses prostate specific antigen (PSA), and dendritic cells present PSA to T cells.&#10;C) A single B cell clone that is tumor specific is grown in the lab and infused into the patient to produce large amounts of tumor specific antibody.&#10;D) Patient tumor cells are exposed to a viral vector containing a gene for prostate specific antigen (PSA), and then the tumor cells are infused into the patient to stimulate an immune response.

Accepted Answer

Patient dendritic cells are incubated with a fusion protein containing PSA and granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The colony-stimulating factor will stimulate proliferation of dendritic cells, and the dendritic cells will present PSA antigens to T cells to stimulate an antitumor immune response.

Question 8

Recombinant IL-2 administration is appropriate for the treatment of:&#10;A) HIV&#10;B) Cancer&#10;C) Arthritis&#10;D) Transplant patients

Accepted Answer

IL-2 stimulates the immune system, particularly enhancing CD8 response to tumor cells, and is indicated for the treatment of some cancers. In the other cases, immune stimulation is contraindicated.

Question 9

Which of the following may be administered to treat rheumatoid arthritis?
I. Infliximab
II. Adalimumab
III. Canakinumab

A) I only
B) III only
C) I and II
D) II and III
E) I, II, and III

Accepted Answer

Infliximab and adalimumab are monoclonal antibodies that target soluble TNF, which plays a major role in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis. Canakinumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against IL-1b, and is used to treat CAPS.

Question 10

Which of the following is a marker for melanoma?&#10;A) AFP&#10;B) CEA&#10;C) MART-1&#10;D) Sialyl Tn antigen

Accepted Answer

MART-1, which stands for melanoma antigen recognized by T cells, is overexpressed in melanoma cells and stimulates a vigorous T cell response.

Deck 23: Cytokines and Biological Modifiers