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Immunology Topic Homepage
Immunology Overview
Immunology is the branch of biology that studies the immune system, and the mechanisms involved in the defense of an organism when it is confronted with a foreign substance (antigen).
The innate immune system has evolved over billions of years by the interaction of micro-organisms with antigens.1 The emergence of the adaptive immune system seems, however, more recent and coincided with the arrival of the first jawed...
... vertebrates, some 400 million years ago.2 This system, which was more accurate and efficient, gave better protection against virulent pathogens, or pathogens that were difficult to remove.2
During the past 35 years, research in immunology has made significant progress, particularly since the discovery of the first hybridoma technique for producing monoclonal antibodies.3 The most notable progress is probably the one concerning the use of these antibodies in the treatment of human diseases such as; autoimmune diseases (Crohn's disease4, psoriasis5), cancer (breast6, colorectal7) and graft versus host disease.8
However, other challenges have to be faced in the next decade for the development of safer, more efficient, and cheaper therapeutic antibodies. This will only be achieved through a deeper understanding of the immune system and its actions, and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in antigen recognition.9
1. Marchalonis J. J. et al. Natural recognition repertoire and the evolutionary emergence of the combinatorial immune system. The FASEB Journal. 2002 ;16 : 842-848.
2. Usharauli D. Chronic infection and the origin of adaptive immune system. Medical Hypotheses. 2010 ; 75 (2) : 241-243.
3. Bradbury A. R. M. et al. Beyond natural antibodies: the power of in vitro display technologies. Nature Biotechnology. 2011 ; 29 : 245-254.
4. Ito H. et al. A pilot randomized trial of a human anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody in active Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology. 2004 ; 126 (4) : 989-996.
5. Gottlieb A.B. et al. Evaluation of safety and clinical activity of multiple doses of the anti-CD80 monoclonal antibody, galiximab, in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Clinical Immunology. 2004 ; 111 (1) : 28-37.
6. Nielsen D. L. et al. HER2-targeted therapy in breast cancer. Monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Cancer Treatment Reviews. 2009 ; 35 (2) : 121-136.
7. Ferrara N. et al. Bevacizumab (Avastin), a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody for cancer therapy. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2005 ; 333 (2) : 328-335.
8. van Dorp S. et al. Rituximab Treatment before Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Transplantation Associates with a Decreased Incidence of Extensive Chronic GVHD. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2009 ; 15 (6) : 671-678.
9. Leavy O. Therapeutic antibodies: past, present and future. Nature Reviews Immunology. May 2010 ; 10 : 297 -297.
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Drug News
Moxetumomab (MedImmune/AstraZeneca) moves into Phase III for Treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia
17-05-2013
MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm, has enrolled the first patient in the Phase III clinical trial for moxetumomab pasudotox. The trial is sponsored by the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP), a programme within the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the US National Cancer Institute, and will evaluate moxetumomab pasudotox as a potential...
GA 101 success in Phase III study for treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
17-05-2013
The first results are announced by Genentech from CLL11, a Phase III study of the investigational medicine GA 101 (obinutuzumab) which is being conducted in collaboration with the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG). The CLL11 study compared the combination of either GA 101 or Rituxan (rituximab) and chlorambucil, a standard chemotherapy, to chlorambucil alone in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
...Enzastaurin (Eli Lilly) fails Phase III trial for B Cell Lymphoma
12-05-2013Eli Lilly and Company has announced Phase III clinical trial results from enzastaurin's PRELUDE study, which explored the molecule as a monotherapy in the prevention of relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The study failed to show a statistically significant increase compared to placebo in disease-free survival in patients at high risk of relapse following...
Immunology Drug Data - A-Z
Possible searches include drugs or medicines (by brand, generic ingredient or drug class), diseases, conditions and more.
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Recent Drug Updates
Xaluprine
20-02-2013Xaluprine is indicated for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in adults, adolescents and children....
Voltarol 25mg, 50mg Rapid Tablets
13-04-2012Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthrosis Low back pain Migraine attacks Acute musculo-skeletal disorders and trauma such as periarthritis (especially frozen shoulder), tendinitis, tenosynovitis,...
Clinical Guidelines
Psoriasis - Assessment and management of psoriasis
Oct 2012This guideline aims to provide clear recommendations on the assessment and management of psoriasis..
... for all people with psoriasis. The diagnosis of psoriasis has not been included within the scope, partly for pragmatic reasons given that to cover psoriasis management itself is a considerable task, but also because there are no agreed diagnostic criteria or tests available and accurate diagnosis remains primarily a clinical one. In considering which specific aspects of psoriasis management to address, the guideline development group have focussed on areas most likely to improve the management and delivery of care for a majority of people affected, where practice is very varied and/or where clear consensus or guidelines on treatments are lacking.
Crohn's disease - Management in adults, children and young people
Oct 2012This guideline intends to show the place of both new and established treatments in the wider care..
... pathway for Crohn’s disease. This will be useful for clinicians and people with Crohn’s disease because new drugs have been licensed for Crohn’s disease in the last decade. The guideline also deals with those medications which are unlicensed for treatment of the condition, but which have been used in this way (off-label) for many years and their role is recognised in other NICE documents as well as the British National Formulary.They include azathioprine, mercaptopurine and methotrexate. The guideline aims to help improve the care offered to people with Crohn’s disease and provide information about the clinical and cost effectiveness of potential care pathways. Management of Crohn’s disease in specific populations (for example, in pregnancy) may require special consideration.
Online CME
Quality of Life and Angioedema: Evolving a Treatment Plan
Apr 2013
... care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, emergency department physicians, surgeons, ENTs, obstetricians/gynecologists, and clinical pharmacists. The goal of this activity is to provide targeted educational intervention for clinicians across several specialties who interact with, diagnose, and care for patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE).
Stepping Beyond a Diagnosis of Angioedema
Apr 2013
... care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, emergency department physicians, surgeons, ENTs, obstetricians/gynecologists, and clinical pharmacists. The goal of this activity is to provide targeted educational intervention for clinicians across several specialties who interact with, diagnose, and care for patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE)
Clinical Trials
A Retrospective Observational Study on the Use of Biologics in Monotherapy in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
11-04-2013This retrospective, observational, multi-center study will evaluate the use of biological agents (e.g. RoActemra/Actemra [tocilizumab]) in monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Data from medical record files will be collected of patients currently treated with a biologic in monotherapy.
A Phase 2/3 Open-label Extension Study to Evaluate Long-Term Safety and Efficacy With VX-509 in Subjects With Rheumatoid Arthritis
10-04-2013This study is designed to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of VX-509 in subjects with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on DMARD therapy. This study will enroll subjects who completed a previous designated study with VX-509 (e.g., Study VX12-509-103).
Medical Videos
Medical Journal Abstracts
The combination of IKKβ inhibitor and everolimus modulates expression of IL-10 in HTLV-1-infected T cells
Immunology
Dec 2012
Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignancy of CD4+/CD25+ T lymphocytes, and characterized with severely compromised immunosystem in which the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has been recognized as the etiologic agent. This study found that an IκB kinase β (IKKβ) inhibitor..
The protective effect of a DNA vaccine encoding the Toxoplasma gondii cyclophilin gene in BALB/c mice
Parasite Immunology
Dec 2012
Toxoplasmosis is a world-wide zoonosis that causes significant public health and veterinary problems. The study of vaccines remains the most promising method for the future prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. Recombinant Toxoplasma gondii cyclophilin has been shown to have potent PPIase and IL-12-inducing..
Social Media
Frailty. Is it an important clinical syndrome?
on doc2doc... with renal failure, heart failure, liver dysfunction, depressed immune system, undernourished patient and other conditions. Primum non nocere.Careful ...
To vitamin D or not to D? That is the question!
on doc2doc... treatment for rickets. We now know that vitamin D is involved in many immune processes, and a good supply is not just needed for bone health but for ...
Medical myths in your specialty
on doc2doc... 8220;Triad” is an Autoimmune Response to a vaccine or other antigen and they stop accusing innocent parents for murdering or injuring ...
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