Immunostimulator

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Immunostimulators are substances (drugs and nutrients) that stimulate the immune system by inducing activation or increasing activity of any of its components. One notable example include granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, commercially available under Leukine name.

Contents

Classification

There are two main categories of immunostimulators:

  • Specific immunostimulators are those which provide antigenic specificity in immune response, such as vaccines or any antigen.
  • Non-specific immunostimulators are those which act irrespective of antigenic specificity to augment immune response of other antigen or stimulate components of the immune system without antigenic specificity, such as adjuvants and non-specific immunostimulators.

Non-specific

Many endogenous substances are non-specific immunostimulators. For example, female sex hormones are known to stimulate both adaptive[1] and innate immune responses.[2] Some autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus strike women preferentially, and their onset often coincides with puberty. Other hormones appear to regulate the immune system as well, most notably prolactin, growth hormone and vitamin D.[3][4]

Examples of Immunostimulator drugs

See also

References

  1. ^ Wira, CR; Crane-Godreau M, Grant K (2004). "Endocrine regulation of the mucosal immune system in the female reproductive tract", in In: Ogra PL, Mestecky J, Lamm ME, Strober W, McGhee JR, Bienenstock J (eds.): Mucosal Immunology. San Francisco: Elsevier. ISBN 0124915434. 
  2. ^ Lang, TJ (2004). "Estrogen as an immunomodulator". Clin Immunol 113: 224–230. doi:10.1016/j.clim.2004.05.011. PMID 15507385. 
    Moriyama, A; Shimoya K, Ogata I et al. (1999). "Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) concentrations in cervical mucus of women with normal menstrual cycle". Molecular Human Reproduction 5: 656–661. doi:10.1093/molehr/5.7.656. PMID 10381821. 
    Cutolo, M; Sulli A, Capellino S, Villaggio B, Montagna P, Seriolo B, Straub RH (2004). "Sex hormones influence on the immune system: basic and clinical aspects in autoimmunity". Lupus 13: 635–638. doi:10.1191/0961203304lu1094oa. PMID 15485092. 
    King, AE; Critchley HOD, Kelly RW (2000). "Presence of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in human endometrium and first trimester decidua suggests an antibacterial role". Molecular Human Reproduction 6: 191–196. doi:10.1093/molehr/6.2.191. PMID 10655462. 
  3. ^ Dorshkind, K; Horseman ND (2000). "The Roles of Prolactin, Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I, and Thyroid Hormones in Lymphocyte Development and Function: Insights from Genetic Models of Hormones and Hormone Receptor Deficiency". Endocrine Reviews 21: 292–312. doi:10.1210/er.21.3.292. PMID 10857555. 
  4. ^ Nagpal, Sunil; Songqing Naand and Radhakrishnan Rathnachalam (2005). "Noncalcemic Actions of Vitamin D Receptor Ligands". Endocrine Reviews 26 (5): 662–687. doi:10.1210/er.2004-0002. PMID 15798098. .

External links

v • d • e
Major drug groups
Gastrointestinal tract/metabolism (A)
Blood and blood forming organs (B)
Cardiovascular system (C)
Skin (D)
Reproductive system (G)
Endocrine system (H)
Infections and infestations (J, P)
Malignant and immune disease (L)
Anticancer agents • Immunostimulators • Immunosuppressants
Muscles, bones, and joints (M)
Brain and nervous system (N)
Respiratory system (R)
v • d • e
Immunomodulators - immunostimulants (L03)
Colony stimulating factors
Interferons
Interleukins
Other cytokines and endogenous immunostimulants
Exogenous
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  • This page was last modified on 18 June 2008, at 11:20.

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