Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 suppressing the immune response. This therapy is mostly used to treat cancer. For treating cancer, the therapy aims at boosting the natural defense of the body. The therapy utilizes the agents that are either produced by the body or injected artificially after preparation in a laboratory. The function of immunotherapy is to stop or slow down the growth of cancerous cells, prevent the cells from spreading to other parts, and strengthening the immune system so that it can destroy the cancer cells more effectively. Immunotherapy has different compositions: monoclonal antibodies, non- specific immunotherapies, cancer vaccination, and Oncolytic virus therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are the antibodies developed in a laboratory with properties that attach themselves to specific proteins in cancerous cells. Monoclonal antibodies help treat cancer by inhibiting the pathway of cancer cells with the help of PD- 1 and PD-LI antibodies. These antibodies are also used to provide low doses of radiation directly to the cancer cells. Further, with the help of radioactive particles in the monoclonal antibodies, diagnosis of various cancers (colorectal, ovarian, or prostate) is possible. Treatment of cancer through monoclonal antibodies is possible by transferring the drug combating cancer directly to the cancerous cells. Non-specific immunotherapy is generally paired with chemotherapy or radiation therapy in order to treat cancer. Interferon and interleukins are two common, non-specific immunotherapies used. The former helps to slow down the growth of cancer cells by using interferon alpha, Intron A, and alferon types of interferon, while the latter invokes the immune system of the body so that it produces the cells that help in the destruction of cancerous cells. The vaccination for cancer is generally for prevention of cancer and treatment of cancer. Oncolytic virus therapy is a recent approach in which geneticallymodified viruses are used to combat cancerous cells. When the virus is injected in the tumor, it replicates itself and dies. As the cells die, they release cancer antigens, which trigger the immune system to attack the cancer cells with antigens. Immuno-Compromised Host An immune-compromised host is not able to respond to infection normally. The person is likely to suffer from infections and diseases like HIV, diabetes, and malnutrition. The immune-compromising conditions can either be congenital or acquired. Some congenital immune-compromised conditions are syndromes, B-cell defects, T-cell defects, the combination of B and T cell defects, macrophage and cytokine defects, phagocyte dysfunction, and complement deficiencies. These congenital conditions have the ability to affect the fetus or new born child, while acquired conditions may influence and disturb the normal functioning of the immune system, or can impact the barrier function of the immune system. Some acquired conditions include malnutrition, HIV infection, and trauma. Such hosts are likely to suffer from infections and have complications. Unlike the host with a healthy immune system, the immune-compromised host is more susceptible to be affected by infections from bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Some infections that the host is likely to suffer form due to B cell defects are non-enveloped viruses, parvovirus B19, and rotavirus. Other infections, caused by T and B cell Achieve Page 36

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