Question

Describe the mechanism of action, therapeutic use, and adverse effects of immunomodulators and immunosuppressants.

Answer 1

Immunomodulators are the category of the drugs or the chemical substances which either that either stimulate or suppress the state ad functioning of the immune system.

Thus they are of basically two types:

• Immunostimulants
• Immunosuppressants

Immunostimulants: enhances the activity of the immune system. They work on both cellular as well as humoral immune system.

Mechanism of action:

• By increasing the production of cytokins like IL-1, IL 2 & INF- ϒ.
• By increasing the production of TNF-α in the biological system.
• By increasing the proliferation of the lymphocytes.
• By stimulation of the phagocytic cells.
• By synthesis of secretary Igs

Therapeutic efficacy/use:

Widely used for the infection of respiratory, urine and other systems

Side effects:

• Transient fever
• CNS depression
• Rise of uric acid
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite.

Immunosuppressants: these are the drugs or the chemicals responsible for the suppression of the strength of body’s immune system.

Mechanism of action:

• By inhibiting the activity of the cytokins like IL-1, IL 2 & INF- ϒ.
• By suppressing the action of TNF-α
• By decreasing the action of lymphocytes.
• By mitigation of phagocytic cells.
• By supressing the mast cell activity

Therapeutic efficacy/use:

They are used to suppress the ability of the body to reject a transplanted organ like liver, heart and kidney etc. furthermore these are used to treat autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and asthma etc.

Side effects:

• Fever and back pain
• Pain on urination
• Tiredness and weakness
• Frequent urination