- Allergen immunotherapy, i.e. desensitization
- Allergen immunotherapy - sublingual desensitization
- Immunotherapy in cancer treatment
- Immunosuppression after transplant and more
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Immunotherapy is a method of modulating the immune system that is used for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Immunotherapy is used, inter alia, in in case of allergy, to develop tolerance to that allergen. In addition, immunotherapy has found application in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and in transplantation. It is also increasingly used in the treatment of cancer. Check what immunotherapy is all about.
Immunotherapyconsists in artificial modulation - stimulation ( immunostimulation ), reduction ( immunosuppression ) or reconstruction ( immunoreconstruction ) - the natural immunity of the body for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Immunotherapy has been used in the prevention of the development of numerous diseases (immunization) and in the causal treatment of allergies (desensitization). In addition, it is used in the treatment of infectious diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus (serotherapy), autoimmune diseases (in the course of which the body attacks itself) and in transplantation. Immunotherapy is also one of the methods of cancer treatment.
Immunotherapycan bespecific( targeted ), i.e. targeted at a specific type of cell to be combated andnon-specific(non-specific) which stimulates the immune system to function better overall. There is also a division into local immunotherapy (applies to one part of the body) or comprehensive (applies to the whole body).
Allergen immunotherapy, i.e. desensitization
Allergen immunotherapy, i.e. desensitization, is aimed at a specific allergen or group of allergens. It consists in administering over a certain period of time, at specific intervals, gradually increasing doses of an allergen or several allergens in order to modify the body's response to this allergen and to induce tolerance to it. In the course of desensitization, the production of antibodies responsible for causing allergies is gradually reduced. In this way, the sensitization can be eliminated or at least its symptoms can be alleviated ( although in some people desensitization may not have any effect).
Sublingual vaccine is a safe way to treat allergies in children
Allergen immunotherapy - sublingual desensitization
Source:Lifestyle.newseria.pl
Immunotherapy in cancer treatment
One type of cancer immunotherapy is active immunotherapy, which aims to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. In this case, tumor vaccines are used, which include specially prepared tumor cells (derived from the patient) or tumor antigens. To date, two cancer vaccines have been developed - for melanoma ( Melacine)and for colon cancer(OncoVAX).
In turn, in the case of passive immunotherapy of cancer, vaccines containing antibodies (usually monoclonal antibodies) directed against specific neoplastic cells are used.
In contrast, non-specific cancer immunotherapy consists in administering drugs (cytokines, e.g. interferon), which sensitize the tumor to them, inhibit the development of tumor cells and activate the cells of the immune system.
However, the most modern method of cancer immunotherapy is molecularly targeted therapy. It involves identifying antigens on cancer cells and then producing antibodies against them that bind to those specific antigens. In this way, the growth of the neoplasm is inhibited.
Immunosuppression after transplant and more
One of the types of immunotherapy is immunosuppression, i.e. partial or complete inhibition of the body's production of antibodies and immune cells, when their effects may be harmful to the body. For this purpose, the so-called immunosuppressants (most often immunosuppressants).
Immunotherapy is mainly used in the course of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or alopecia areata. In this case, immunosuppressants such as glucocorticosteroids, alkylating drugs (cyclophosphamide, chlormethine), antimetabolites (methotrexate, azathioprine), cyclosporin A and mycophenolate mofetil are used to "silence" the immune system. These drugs inhibit the immune system's inadequate response against its own tissues.
In turn, in the case of transplants, an immunosuppressive procedure is performed, which consists in the complete destruction of immune cells by the use of radiation or pharmacological agents. This type of procedure is intended to prevent rejection of the transplant (there is a risk that the body will treat the transplanted organ as a foreign body and try to fight it).
However, after the immunosuppressive procedure, the body is deprived of immune system cells, which increases the risk of pathogens attack and developmentinfection. This is why the transplanted person must remain in sterile conditions. However, frequent infections are not the only side effect of immunosuppression. Its use is also associated with an increased risk of malignant tumors and damage to the heart and liver, which applies not only to people after transplantation.