Immunopharmacology - Tapa dura

During the past decades, with the introduction of the recombinant DNA, hybridoma and transgenic technologies there has been an exponential evolution in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of a large number of human diseases. The technologies are evident with the development of cytokines and monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents and the techniques used in gene therapy. Immunopharmacology is that area of biomedical sciences where immunology, pharmacology and pathology overlap. It concerns the pharmacological approach to the immune response in physiological as well as pathological events.

This goals and objectives of this textbook are to emphasize the developments in immunology and pharmacology as they relate to the modulation of immune response. The information includes the pharmacology of cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, mechanism of action of immune-suppressive agents and their relevance in tissue transplantation, therapeutic strategies for the treatment of AIDS and the techniques employed in gene therapy. The book is intended for health care professional students and graduate students in pharmacology and immunology.

Immunopharmacology focuses on the mechanism of action of pharmacologic agents that regulate immune response and the physiologic, pathologic, and pharmacologic role of the products of immune response. Topics include cytokines and their receptors, immunosuppressive drugs, monoclonal antibodies, mechanisms and immunotherapy of allergic disease, clinical transplantation, acquired immune deficiency disease, regulatory T cells, and gene therapy. The book provides most basic principles of immunopharmacology by equally emphasizing the disciplines of immunology and pharmacology, which will be a very valuable tool for both the professional as well as graduate students.