The drug interleukin-2 is an example of which type of biologic response modifier?

Biological response modifiers (BRMs) are substances that modify immune responses. They can be both endogenous (produced naturally within the body) and exogenous (as pharmaceutical drugs), and they can either enhance an immune response or suppress it. Some of these substances arouse the body's response to an infection, and others can keep the response from becoming excessive. Thus they serve as immunomodulators in immunotherapy (therapy that makes use of immune responses), which can be helpful in treating cancer (where targeted therapy often relies on the immune system being used to attack cancer cells) and in treating autoimmune diseases (in which the immune system attacks the self), such as some kinds of arthritis and dermatitis. Most BRMs are biopharmaceuticals (biologics), including monoclonal antibodies, interleukin 2, interferons, and various types of colony-stimulating factors (e.g., CSF, GM-CSF, G-CSF). "Immunotherapy makes use of BRMs to enhance the activity of the immune system to increase the body's natural defense mechanisms against cancer",[1] whereas BRMs for rheumatoid arthritis aim to reduce inflammation.

Some of the effects of BRMs include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever and chills, muscle aches, weakness, skin rash, an increased tendency to bleed, or swelling.[citation needed] For example, patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) who are treated with standard of care, including biologic response modifiers, experience a higher risk of mortality and opportunistic infection compared to the general population.[2]

Abciximab[edit]

Mechanism of action: A monoclonal antibody that binds to the glycoprotein receptor IIb/IIIa on activated platelets, preventing aggregation. Clinical use: Acute coronary syndromes, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Toxicity: Bleeding, thrombocytopenia.

Anakinra (Kineret)[edit]

Mechanism of action: A recombinant version of the Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist. Clinical use: Rheumatoid arthritis. Toxicity: Allergic response & neutropenia.

Etanercept (Enbrel)[edit]

Mechanism of action: Recombinant form of human TNF receptor that binds TNF. Clinical use: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis.

Infliximab (Remicade)[edit]

Mechanism of action: A monoclonal antibody to TNF, proinflammatory cytokine. Clinical use: Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. Toxicity: Respiratory infection, fever, hypotension. Predisposes to infections (reactivation of latent TB).

Rituximab (Rituxan)[edit]

Mechanism of action: A monoclonal antibody to CD20 surface immunoglobulin. Clinical use: Lymphoma and a variety of autoimmune diseases, although it may be ineffective in treating IgA-mediated diseases.[3]

Trastuzumab (Herceptin)[edit]

Mechanism of action: A monoclonal antibody against HER2/neu (erb-B2). Helps kill breast cancer cells that overexpress HER-2, possibly through antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. Clinical use: Metastatic breast cancer. Toxicity: Cardiotoxicity.

Natural BRMs[edit]

Extracts from some medicinal mushrooms are natural biological response modifiers.[4]

See also[edit]

  • Immunotherapy

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Biological Response Modifiers (BRM)".
  2. ^ Shamliyan, Tatyana A.; Dospinescu, Paula (July 2017). "Additional Improvements in Clinical Response From Adjuvant Biologic Response Modifiers in Adults With Moderate to Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Despite Immunosuppressive Agents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". Clinical Therapeutics. 39 (7): 1479–1506.e45. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2017.05.359. ISSN 1879-114X. PMID 28673504.
  3. ^ He Y, Shimoda M, Ono Y, Villalobos IB, Mitra A, Konia T, Grando SA, Zone JJ, Maverakis E (2015). "Persistence of Autoreactive IgA-Secreting B Cells Despite Multiple Immunosuppressive Medications Including Rituximab". JAMA Dermatol. 151 (6): 646–50. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.59. PMID 25901938.
  4. ^ Tzianabos AO (2000). "Polysaccharide immunomodulators as therapeutic agents: structural aspects and biologic function". Clin Microbiol Rev. 13 (4): 523–33. doi:10.1128/CMR.13.4.523-533.2000. PMC 88946. PMID 11023954.

  • Biological Response Modifier
  • Deepak A. Rao; Le, Tao; Bhushan, Vikas. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2008 (First Aid for the Usmle Step 1). McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN 0-07-149868-0.

What type of drug is interleukin

Aldesleukin is an immunotherpay drug. It is also known as interleukin 2 (IL-2) or by its brand name Proleukin. It is a treatment for kidney cancer that has spread to another part of the body (advanced kidney cancer). It is also used in clinical trials for other types of cancer.

What is an example of a biological response modifier?

Types of biological response modifier therapy include immunotherapy (such as cytokines, cancer treatment vaccines, and some antibodies) and some targeted therapies. Also called biological therapy, biotherapy, and BRM therapy.

What is interleukin

It increases the growth and activity of other T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, and affects the development of the immune system. Aldesleukin (interleukin-2 made in the laboratory) is being used as a biological response modifier to boost the immune system in cancer therapy. Interleukin-2 is a type of cytokine.

Which substance is known as biological response modifiers?

Biologic response modifiers (BRMs), also known as immunomodulators, are the class of medications that target the disease-causing mechanism. They are used in autoimmune diseases as first-line medications or after the failure of conventional agents.