What is an immunomodulator?
The immunomodulator is a substance that either suppresses or activates the body's immune response. These substances are divided into two groups: immunosuppressants and immune activators. Immunosuppressants inhibit the natural immune response of the body, while immune activators generally condition or reprogram it to focus on a specific agent causing the disease.
Immunomodulators can be produced in synthetic form or naturally in the body. Cytokines are examples of congenital immune mediators. Synthetic versions are available in the form of immunosuppressants or immune activators. The suppressing immunomodulator works by inhibiting the activation of critical substances of the immune system, such as calcineurin and the formation of grinding cells (T-cells) and antibodies. For comparison, the activation immunomodulator uses the process of adaptive immunity to reconditioning lymphocytes and T-cells to kill known pathogens or tumor cells.
cyclosporin and methotrexate are commonly used by synthetic immunosupsor.s. Methotrexate afterIt is used in patients with autoimmune problems. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of autoimmune disorders that cause the patient's body to attack his own cells. Finally, targeted cells and tissues after repeated attacks are damaged.
The process of rejecting organs is similar to autoimmune dysfunction, with the exception of the immune system, it focuses on a transplanted organ rather than on the body's own cells. Organ transplant recipients use suppressing drugs such as cyclosporin, tacrolimus and sirolimus to avoid rejection of organs. Almost all recipients of transplantation, with the exception of rare several, must be followed by a strict daily regime, which includes the use of these drugs for life. Not using medicines as prescribed, almost always causes rejection of the organs, which could lead to death. Due to the toxic side effects of the drug should only be used by immunosuppressorsthe dysfunction or organ transplantation.
Immunomodulators that activate the immune system include vaccines and cancer immunotherapy. Vaccines work by exposing the patient weakened or inactive forms of certain bacteria and viruses. The immune system then adapts to the production of antibodies that are programmed to immediately kill the established pathogen as soon as it re -enters the body, called adaptive immunity.
Immunotherapy of cancer is very similar to pathogen vaccination. The difference between the two therapies is an agent in which adaptive immunity is caused. Vaccines use microorganisms, while cancer immunotherapy uses microorganisms and increased immune cells. Immunotherapy of microorganism cancer is used to combat some forms of cervical cancer and liver caused by viruses. On the other hand, cell -based immunomodulator uses increased immune cells such as cytotoxic t lymphocytes (CTL), dendritic cells (DC) and natural killerCells (NK cells) rget and destroy the patient cancer cells.