Practice Questions and Essay Questions on Cellular Biology and Immunology

Question: Multiple choice questions. Answer all questions. Only one answer is correct. Please circle your choice. 1.  Which of the following describes an increase in cell numbers? a) Hypertrophy b) Hyperplasia c) Dysplasia d) Metaplasia 2. Which of the following describes a tumour arising from epithelial cells? a) Carcinoma b) Myeloma c) Sarcoma d) Lymphoma 3. Which of the following describes cells with abnormal appearing nuclei? a) Pyknosis b) Karyolysis c) Dyskaryosis d) Dysplasia 4. The deposition of immune complexes and subsequent activation of complement and inflammation is classified as which one of the following hypersensitivity reactions? a) Type I b) Type II c) Type III d) Type IV 5. Which of the following statements about tumour suppressor genes is incorrect? a) A gain-of-function mutation in a tumour-suppressor gene leads to development of cancer. b) Both alleles of a tumour suppressor gene must be lost or inactivated to result in cancer development c) Tumour supressor genes have a role in apoptosis in normal cells d) Tumour supressor genes encode proteins that regulate the cell cycle 6. Which of the following is a tumour suppressor gene? a) Src b) Ras c) Myc d) RB 7. Increased apoptosis is associated with which one of the following diseases? a) Parkinson’s Disease b) Poxvirus infections c) Breast cancer d) Systemic lupus erythematosus 8 .The mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is representative of which one of the following diseases? a) Goodpasture’s syndrome b) Systemic lupus erythematosus c)  Multiple sclerosis d) Myasthenia gravis  9. Anti-metabolite drugs interrupt which stage of the cell cycle? a)Metaphase b)Anaphase c)S-phase (DNA synthesis) d)G1-phase 10. Which one of the following chemotherapeutic drugs is not dependent on the cell cycle? a) 6-Mercaptopurine (antimetabolite) b) Mechlorethamine (alkylating agent) c) Paclitaxel (inhibit tubulin depolymerisation) d) Hydroxyurea (antimetabolite) Essay questions. Answer one question. 15. Compare and contrast one organ-specific and one non-organ-specific autoimmune disease, describing the known causal immunological mechanisms.   Organ-specific – immune response will be directed against target antigens associated with the organ or organs in question (although not necessarily only that organ); eg. Graves’ disease – anti thyroid antibodies.  In pernicious anaemia , auto antibodies of similar specificity produced also. Non-organ-specific – immune response directed to more generalised antigens eg.  In RA: Ig; in SLE: nuclear components. Immune response can be either antibody-mediated or T-cell-mediated eg. Graves’ disease versus Hashimoto’s thyroiditis In SLE circulating immune complexes filtered onto kidney glomerular basement membrane, activate complement leading to lesions and kidney failure, and also attract infiltration of inflammatory cells causing further damage. In diabetes, cellular response against beta cell antigens. 16.  a) Outline the principles of immunocytochemistry.   a) Identify key target antigens - eg. CD3 and macrophage-specific antigens); identify suitable primary and secondary antibodies; identify a detection system, including a suitable enzyme substrate (if using an enzyme conjugate). b) Describe its use in monitoring acute rejection after heart transplantation. b) Obtain biopsy material (over relevant period, ie each week at first, then (later) each month, up to one year post-transplant). 17 a) Describe the genetic basis of cancer, including a description of the types of genetic changes that can occur, and the types of genes involved. b) How have genomic techniques advanced our understanding of the genetic changes that occur in cancers, and the drug treatments that are appropriate?