Understand The Methods Used To Manipulate Immune Response

Understand the methods used to manipulate immune response

The immune response is how the body identifies foreign substances that may be harmful to the body and how it defends against any bacteria, viruses and fungi. It does this by recognizing any antigens that may be present in foreign materials and correctly responding to them.

When an antigen (foreign substance) penetrates the body, it is immediately detected by a number of cells that work together in order to respond to it. Once the antigen is detected the cells trigger B-lymphocytes to produce antibodies, which then lock onto the antigen present. T cells now can destroy the antigen as they have been marked by the antibodies released earlier. The T cells also are a signal for other cells like phagocytes to carry out their job e.g. phagocytosis. Once the antibodies are produced they will become present within the body so in the future is the same antigen enters the body it can be destroyed by the same antibodies immediately. There are different methods in manipulating the body’s immune system response this can be done in the form of vaccinations allowing an individual to be immunized against specific pathogens.

Immunisation and strategies used

There are two types of strategies used in immunisation these are active and passive immunity. Active immunity is where an individual makes his or her own antibodies to fight of infection and passive immunity is where prepared antibodies are administered to an individual.

Cytokines play a major role in many functional parts of immunity for example they initiate, maintain and regulate immunologic homeostasis and also inflammation. Cytokines can also be administered for many clinical and therapeutic purposes in relation to modulation of cytokine action, in cases of gene therapy and can be effective in many autoimmune diseases. Cytokines are also used therapeutically in immune-compromised patients this is when a patient immune system is compromised by other factors such as in AIDs patients. (Feldmann, 2008)

Due to cytokines being rate limiting potent extracellular molecules they are considered to be good targets for monoclonal antibodies and also antibody like receptors known as Fc fusion proteins. These Fc fusion proteins form the most specific type of therapeutics and give the most efficient interaction between receptors, antibodies and target cells. As cytokines have many functions in terms of regulation and effector cellular function in varied disease, their transduction path and receptor combination make them promising molecules for therapeutic uses (Brombacher, 2015).

Issues of tissue typing, organ rejection, hypersensitivity and immunosuppressive therapy

Due to many technological and surgical advancements we know have in the present time, vital organs which may be failing in an unfortunate individuals are able to get organ transplantation so that they can continue to live longer with a properly functioning system. For example a person suffering from irreversible liver failure due to a hepatitis B infection will require a liver transplant. Although this is a cure or in some cases temporary relief from chronic organ failure and organ disease for many individuals there are many factors to consider before carrying out organ transplantation.

Issues may issues in the area of organ rejection and hypersensitivity as the patients immune system may try to fight of the transplant as it see it as a ‘foreign’ or antigenic. This automatically results in an immune response, which can cause problems when transplanting skin grafts, organs transplants such as kidney, liver, bone marrow, blood and the heart.

Tissue typing is the practice of assessing the immunological compatibility of tissues from independent sources in relation to the recipient this practice is done prior to organ transplantation and is a vital preparation for successful transplantation. In order to carry out tissue typing human leukocyte antigens which are markers that can be found on the surfaces of cells in the blood stimulate an immune response thus leading to the production of antibodies. This HLA is matched in recipients and donors to allow a positive match and avoid rejection.

Other problems that arise when in particular carrying out the transplantation of bone marrow is, graft versus host disease, also known as GVHD. This is when T-cells in the graft recognise the tissue of the individual receiving the graft as foreign (antigenic) and then responses with an immune attack. Also when attempting to suppress the immune system any encounter from foreign pathogen may result in the body’s inability to fight of the infectious invaders due to the body’s weakened immune response. In some cases immune suppression can also result in an increased risk of cancer (Dls.ym.edu.tw, 2001).

Hypersensitivity can be defined as an abnormal pathological immune response, which is triggered by the immune response to the exposure of recurrent antigen. Diseases caused by hypersensitivity include autoimmune diseases, whereby the immune system directs attacks against self-antigens.

References

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