Immunostimulator
Encyclopedia
Immunostimulants, also known as 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 is the granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
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
.
Some publications point towards the effect of DCA as an immunostimulant of the unspecific immune system
, activating its main actors, the macrophage
s. According to these publications, a sufficient amount of DCA in the human body corresponds to a good immune reaction of the unspecific immune system.
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
by inducing activation or increasing activity of any of its components. One notable example is the granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
Classification
There are two main categories of immunostimulants:- Specific immunostimulants provide antigenic specificity in immune response, such as vaccineVaccineA vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s or any antigenAntigenAn antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...
. - Non-specific immunostimulants act irrespective of antigenic specificity to augment immune response of other antigen or stimulate components of the immune system without antigenic specificity, such as adjuvantsImmunologic adjuvantIn immunology, an adjuvant is an agent that may stimulate the immune system and increase the response to a vaccine, without having any specific antigenic effect in itself. The word “adjuvant” comes from the Latin word adiuvare, meaning to help or aid...
and non-specific immunostimulators.
Non-specific
Many endogenous substances are non-specific immunostimulators. For example, female sex hormones are known to stimulate both adaptive and innate immune responses. Some autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosusLupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is a category for a collection of diseases with similar underlying problems with immunity . Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs...
strike women preferentially, and their onset often coincides with puberty
Puberty
Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction, as initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads; the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy...
. Other hormones appear to regulate the immune system as well, most notably prolactin
Prolactin
Prolactin also known as luteotropic hormone is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRL gene.Prolactin is a peptide hormone discovered by Henry Friesen...
, growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
and vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
.
Some publications point towards the effect of DCA as an immunostimulant of the unspecific immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
, activating its main actors, the macrophage
Macrophage
Macrophages are cells produced by the differentiation of monocytes in tissues. Human macrophages are about in diameter. Monocytes and macrophages are phagocytes. Macrophages function in both non-specific defense as well as help initiate specific defense mechanisms of vertebrate animals...
s. According to these publications, a sufficient amount of DCA in the human body corresponds to a good immune reaction of the unspecific immune system.
General
- AntigenAntigenAn antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...
- Co-stimulationCo-stimulationDuring the activation of lymphocytes, co-stimulation is often crucial to the development of an effective immune response. Co-stimulation is required in addition to the antigen-specific signal from their antigen receptors.- Co-stimulation T cells require :...
- ImmunogenicityImmunogenicityImmunogenicity is the ability of a particular substance, such as an antigen or epitope, to provoke an immune response in the body of a human or animal.- Immunogenicity :The ability to induce humoral and/or cell-mediated immune responses....
- Immunologic adjuvantImmunologic adjuvantIn immunology, an adjuvant is an agent that may stimulate the immune system and increase the response to a vaccine, without having any specific antigenic effect in itself. The word “adjuvant” comes from the Latin word adiuvare, meaning to help or aid...
- ImmunomodulatorImmunomodulatorAn immunomodulator, also known as an immunotherapy is a substance which has an effect on the immune system.- Immunosuppressants :Inhibits immune response in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases.- Immunostimulants :...
- ImmunotherapyImmunotherapyImmunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...
Synthetic immunostimulants
- Macrokine, a stimulator of macrophages
- ImiquimodImiquimodImiquimod is a prescription medication that acts as an immune response modifier. It is marketed by Meda AB, Graceway Pharmaceuticals and iNova Pharmaceuticals under the trade names Aldara and Zyclara, and by Mochida as Beselna. It is also referred to as R-837.- History :The original FDA approval...
and resiquimodResiquimodResiquimod is a drug that acts as an immune response modifier, and has antiviral and antitumour activity. It is used as a topical cream in the treatment of skin lesions such as those caused by herpes simplex virus, and as an adjuvant to increase the effectiveness of vaccines...
, activate immune cells through the toll-like receptor 7