Immunostimulant

(Redirected from Immunostimulator)

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.

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1 Classification
- 1.1 Non-specific
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Classification

There are two main categories of immunostimulants:^[]

Specific immunostimulants are those which provide antigenic specificity in immune response, such as vaccines or any antigen.
Non-specific immunostimulants 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.

[edit] 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]

Some publications point towards the effect of DCA as an immunostimulant^[5]^[6]^[7] of the unspecific immune system, activating its main actors, the macrophages. According to these publications, a sufficient amount of DCA in the human body would correspond with a good immune reaction of the unspecific immune system.

[edit] See also

[edit] General

[edit] Endogenous immunostimulants

Deoxycholic acid, a stimulator of macrophages

[edit] Synthetic immunostimulants

Macrokine, a stimulator of macrophages

[edit] Herbal immunostimulants

[edit] References

^ 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.
^ 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. http://molehr.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/5/7/656.
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. http://molehr.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/6/2/191.
^ 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. http://edrv.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/21/3/292?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Dorshkind%2C+K%3B+Horseman+ND+&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT.
^ 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. http://edrv.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/5/662. .
^ Vlček B., Reif A., Seidlova B.: Evidence of the participation of deoxycholate in cancer immunity, Z.Naturforsch. 26 b, 419-424 (1971)
^ Vlček B.: Potentiation of the immune response with DCA (czech), Prakt.Lekar 52, 326-330 (1972)
^ Chyle M., Chyle P.: Regulation of the immune response with DCA (czech, engl. summary), Sbornik lek. 84, 212-218 (1982)

[edit] External links

[hide] v • d • e Pharmacology: Major drug groups

Gastrointestinal tract/metabolism (A)	stomach acid (Antacids, H₂ antagonists, Proton pump inhibitors) • Antiemetics • Laxatives • Antidiarrhoeals/Antipropulsives • Anti-obesity drugs • Anti-diabetics • Vitamins • Dietary minerals

Blood and blood forming organs (B)	Antithrombotics (Antiplatelets, Anticoagulants, Thrombolytics/fibrinolytics) • Antihemorrhagics (Platelets, Coagulants, Antifibrinolytics)

Cardiovascular system (C)	cardiac therapy/antianginals (Cardiac glycosides, Antiarrhythmics, Cardiac stimulants) Antihypertensives • Diuretics • Vasodilators • Beta blockers • Calcium channel blockers • renin-angiotensin system (ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, Renin inhibitors) Antihyperlipidemics (Statins, Fibrates, Bile acid sequestrants)

Skin (D)	Emollients • Cicatrizants • Antipruritics • Antipsoriatics • Medicated dressings

Reproductive system (G)	Hormonal contraception • Fertility agents • SERMs • Sex hormones

Endocrine system (H)	Hypothalamic-pituitary hormones • Corticosteroids (Glucocorticoids, Mineralocorticoids) • Sex hormones • Thyroid hormones/Antithyroid agents

Infections and infestations (J, P, QI)	Antibiotics (Antimycobacterials) • Antifungals • Antivirals • Antiparasitics (Antiprotozoals, Anthelmintics) • Ectoparasiticides • Intravenous immunoglobulin • Vaccines

Malignant disease (L01-L02)	Anticancer agents (Antimetabolites, Alkylating, Spindle poisons, Antineoplastic, Topoisomerase inhibitors)

Immune disease (L03-L04)	Immunomodulators (Immunostimulants, Immunosuppressants)

Muscles, bones, and joints (M)	Anabolic steroids • Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) • Antirheumatics • Corticosteroids • Muscle relaxants • Bisphosphonates

Brain and nervous system (N)	Anesthetics (General, Local) • Analgesics • Antimigraines • Anticonvulsants/Mood stabilizers (Lithium pharmacology) • Antiparkinson drugs Psycholeptics (Anxiolytics, Antipsychotics, Hypnotics/Sedatives) • Psychoanaleptics (Antidepressants, Stimulants)

Respiratory system (R)	Decongestants • Bronchodilators • Cough medicines • H₁ antagonists

Sensory organs (S)	Ophthalmologicals • Otologicals

Other ATC (V)	Antidotes • Contrast media • Radiopharmaceuticals • Dressings

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Immunomodulators: Immunostimulants (L03)

Endogenous

Cytokines

Colony-stimulating factors	G-CSF (Filgrastim/Pegfilgrastim, Lenograstim) · GM-CSF (Molgramostim, Sargramostim) · SCF (Ancestim)

Interferons	alpha: Interferon alpha natural · Interferon alfa-2a/Peginterferon alfa-2a · Interferon alfa-2b/Peginterferon alfa-2b · Interferon alfa-n1 · Interferon alfacon-1 beta: Interferon beta natural · Interferon beta-1a · Interferon beta-1b Interferon gamma

Interleukins	Aldesleukin · Oprelvekin

Other protein/peptide

Pegademase · Immunocyanin · Tasonermin · Prolactin · Growth hormone

Other

Female sex steroids · Vitamin D · Poly ICLC · Histamine dihydrochloride

Exogenous

vaccine (BCG vaccine, Melanoma vaccine) · beta-glucan (Lentinan) · Mifamurtide · thiazolidine (Pidotimod) · heterocyclic compound (Plerixafor) · polyribonucleotide (Poly I:C) · hydroxyquinoline (Roquinimex) · oligopeptide (Glatiramer acetate, Thymopentin)

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The content of this section is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License (local copy). It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Immunostimulator" modified November 23, 2009 with previous authors listed in its history.