Related Experiment Videos
[Transplantation. Immunosuppression]
1Transplantationslaboratoriet, HUCS, Helsingfors.
Nordisk Medicin
|January 1, 1994
Summary
The evolution of immunosuppressive drugs has progressed significantly, from early broad-acting agents to highly specific third-generation medications. This advancement supports the increasing volume of organ transplantation procedures worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Transplantation Medicine
Context:
- Organ transplantation volumes have increased.
- A parallel rise in the need for effective chemical immunosuppression has been observed.
- Historical context of immunosuppressive drug development is crucial.
Purpose:
- To provide a historical overview of immunosuppressive drug development.
- To highlight key advancements in chemical immunosuppression for organ transplantation.
- To track the progression of immunosuppressive therapies over decades.
Summary:
- Early immunosuppression (1950s-1960s) utilized azathioprine, steroids, and polyclonal antibodies.
- Cyclosporine, a second-generation selective immunosuppressant, marked a breakthrough in the 1970s.
- The 1980s saw interest in biological agents like monoclonal antibodies (e.g., anti-CD3), with third-generation drugs emerging in the 1990s.
Impact:
- The development of selective and targeted immunosuppressants has improved organ transplant outcomes.
- Continuous innovation in immunosuppressive drug discovery is essential for advancing transplantation.
- Current research focuses on novel third-generation immunosuppressants with specific mechanisms of action.