The Latest Advances In Drug Manipulations Of The Immune System Essays

INTRODUCTIONIn order to provide a detailed analysis of youthful pharmacological developments involving the human immune system, it is firstly necessary to introduce the innate and adaptive immune responses . Immunosuppressants and immunomodulators will be differentiated between and a endurance of new and often experimental drugs belonging to each category will be provided. Specific drugs will be described including the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics involved with each type. The potential clinical uses will be alluded to along with details from recent research.INNATE electrical resistanceInnate immunity is the first line of defence and comprises physical (skin), biochemical (complement, lysozyme) and cellular (macrophages, neutrophils) mechanisms (Katzung, 1998). All these mechanisms argon non-specific, anti-microbial agents which work in conjunction with adaptive immune responses to provide a more effective system (Downie et. al., 1995).ADAPTIVE IMMUNITYThe adaptive immune system is split into two mechanisms humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity. A basic understanding of these concepts is necessary for the purpose of understanding the specific do of different immunopharmacological agents. HUMORAL IMMUNITYHumoral or antibody-mediated immunity is associated with B-lymphocyte cells. Antigens are foreign molecules that initiate an immune response, they contrive inherent immunogenicity (Tortora & Grabowski, 1996). Upon contact with an antigen, B-cells dissever to produce a clone of plasma cells capable of the production of antibodies. Antibodies are immunoglobulins, modified blood proteins with a specific action against antigens. Five main sub-types of immunoglobulins have been identified of which IgG is the most abundant in bodily fluids (Hopkins, 1995). Several cells are known to initiate the process of plasma cell differentiation and are known collectively as antigen presenting cells (APCs) (Waller & Renwick, 1994).LymphokinesThe antigen on the surface of the APC triggers TH-cells to produce hormone-like lymphokines (Lessof, 1993). Lymphokines are cytokines, regulators of the immune reactions which are produced by lymphocytes. Examples of these chemicals include interleukins, interferon and tumour humiliation factors. Their action involves the regulation of the proliferation, differentiation and activity of leukocytes (Dale et. al., 1994). The na... ...nours/himmun.html">http//www.pharm.uwa.edu.au/aussie/honours/himmun.htmlKahan, B. D. (1998) History of Immunosuppression AT <a href="http//surgery.uth.tmc.edu/organ_transplant/historyimmu.html">http//surgery.uth.tmc.edu/organ_transplant/historyimmu.htmlNijkamp, F.P. & Parnham, M. J. (1999) Principles of Immunopharmacology AT <a href="http//www.springer_ny.com/catalog/np/mar99np/3-7643-5780-0.html">http//www.springer_ny.com/catalog/np/mar99np/3-7643-5780-0.htmlSchultze, J. & Johnson, P. (1999) A Stimulating New Target for Cancer Im munotherapy IN The Lancet vol. 354, Oct. 9, 1999, pp1225-1226Stadtlander Drug Distribution Co. Inc. (1998) Investigational Immunosuppressants for Transplantation AT <a href="http//www.stadtlander.com/ cause/immunosuppren.html">http//www.stadtlander.com/feature/immunosuppren.htmlSwope, V.B Abel-Malek, Z Kassem, L. M. & Nordlund, J.J. (1991) Interleukins 1 Alpha & 6 & Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha are Paracrine Inhibitors of Human Melanocyte Proliferation & Melanogenesis AT <a href="http//www.biosyna.com/patent.htm">http//www.biosyna.com/patent.htm