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THE PHARMA REVIEW
FEBRUARY 06
Mysteries of Allergic
Diseases and Development of Anti Allergic Drugs
Dr. B alvind er Arora and
Dr. Sandeep Kumar Bagga
The prevalence and mysteries of the allergic diseases that affect virtually every system of the human body and are responsible for menacing morbidity and mortality is the clear indication reflecting the need for designing the new drugs to counteract this grave problem? Designing new drugs for allergic diseases would always be an evergreen venture for shear reasons that there are oceans and oceans of the mysteries of immune mechanisms responsible for disease production still not clear to the scientific world. Anaphylactic or Immediate Hypersensitivity is the classic allergic type of reaction mediated through the IgE antibody class (the allergy antibody). White blood cells - mast cells and basophils have IgE sticking to their outer surfaces. When IgE antibody combines with a foreign antigen, a mechanism is activated that causes degranulation of the mast cell or basophil to release very potent chemicals vasoactive amines, such as histamine. These chemicals produce tissue damage and inflammation resulting in often dramatic and intense potentially life threatening symptoms that include allergic asthma, acute gastrointestinal distress, urticaria and anaphylactic shock. Antibody dependant Cellular Cytotoxicity is cell splitting hypersensitivity reactions follow the binding of IgG and IgM antibody to foreign antigen. Antigen-antibody binding results in activation of the complement cascade a series of enzymatic reaction in the blood, cause destruction of the antigen and damage to tissues. Immune complex hypersensitivity involves circulating immune complexes that are formed when antibodies bind to soluble antigen. Immune complexes are normally cleared from the system by white blood cells called macrophages. But, when there is an excessive build up of immune complexes, the macrophages fail to clear them up quickly enough. Excess immune complexes get deposited in tissues causing injury and inflammation. Cell-mediated hypersensitivity is the result of reactions in the tissues between T-lymphocytes (white blood cells) and antigens, causing the release of chemical factors giving rise to inflammation and occur without the involvement of antibody or complement. The above content is an abstract only. For the full Article please contact: |
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