Immune system components

HIV is a member of the retrovirus family (see Table 34-1).32 HIV impairs the function of certain cells in the immune system such as CD4+ (T-helper) lymphocytes.11,26 Destruction of immune system components often leads to the severe immunocompromised state known as AIDS. This virus exists in at least two forms HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both forms of the virus are capable of causing AIDS, but HIV-1 is more prevalent.32 Hence, HIV-1 is also referred to informally as the AIDS virus. Because there is currently no effective way to kill the AIDS virus in humans, there is no cure for AIDS. 

Answer Many pathogens, including HIV, have evolved mechanisms by which they can repeatedly alter the surface proteins to which immune system components initially bind. Thus the host organism regularly faces new antigens and requires time to mount an immune response to each one. As the immune system responds to one variant, new variants are created. Some... 

Membrane, with appropriate permeability characteristics, as well as, physicochemical properties, is used in bioartificial organs as selective barriers to compartmentalize isolated cells while allowing the transport of nutrients and metabolites to cells and the transport of catabohtes and specific metabolic products to blood. Moreover, the membrane avoids the contact between immune system components with xenogenic cells to prevent immunological response and rejection of xenograft. 

Immunotoxic effects can be manifest in three different ways. First, immunosuppression occurs when one or more of the immune system components is affected, resulting in a reduction in immune system function. Immunosuppression is manifest by decreased resistance to viral, bacterial, fungal, and other infectious agents and by increased susceptibility to cancer. I23 ... 

The hallmark of the immune system is its ability to respond to an invasion of the body by microorganisms or toxic components in ways that afford protection against the detrimental effects that could occur. The responses of the immune system include both specific (adaptive immune system) and non-specific (innate immune system) components. These react in different ways to antigens, which are substances foreign to the host. For example, antigens can be protein or polysaccharide components of microorganisms, but also toxic substances produced by them. Components of innate and adaptive immunity are listed in Table 4.1. 

Oxidative damage to hemoglobin may lead to its precipitation (e.g., by acetaminophen) and present as Heinz bodies that can be detected by morphological evaluation of blood smears. Heinz body is a rounded, often retractile, projection from the surface of the RBC that is due to oxidation and denatur-ation of hemoglobin. Typically, the detection of Heinz bodies associated with hemolytic anemia is believed to be indicative of nonimmune-mediated anemia. In contrast, supportive evidence of the involvement of immune system components in anemic animals could include a positive autoagglutination of blood cells. 

Multiple recent publications have linked genetic polymorphisms in genes for immune system components to DIT (Daly and Day, 2009). These associations have been seen with abacavir (Hughes et al., 2008), flucloxacillin (Daly et al., 2009), ximelgatran (Kindmark et al., 2008), and even acetaminophen (Harrill... 

Germanium compounds act as immunomodulators by affecting a variety of immune system components. This effect of germanium can be induced by reduced antibody production, increased interleukin 1 and depressed interleukin 2 and 3 production, increased interferon and spleen cell activity [6]. 

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