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Immunology
Immunology examines immune system physiology, inflammatory signaling pathways, hypersensitivity reactions, and pharmacologic modulation of immune responses.
This section progresses from immune physiology → inflammatory mediators → hypersensitivity → immune-targeting pharmacology → clinical disease integration.
Immunology underlies:
I. Core Immune Physiology
Innate Immunity
Major innate mediators:
Adaptive Immunity
Dominant T-helper patterns:
- Th1 → Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Th2 → Allergic Disease / Asthma
- Treg → immune tolerance
II. Inflammatory Mediator Networks
Arachidonic Acid Cascade
Membrane phospholipids → Phospholipase A2 → Arachidonic Acid →
→ COX pathway → Prostaglandins & Thromboxanes
→ 5-Lipoxygenase Pathway → Leukotrienes
Upstream Inhibition
Nonselective COX Inhibitors
COX-2 Selective Inhibitors
Prostaglandin Receptor Agonists
Leukotriene Pathway
Histamine Pathway
Complement Pathway
III. Immune-Modulating Drug Classes
Broad Immunosuppressants
Calcineurin inhibitors:
Used in:
- Autoimmune disease
Targeted Immune Therapies
High-Yield Framework
- Innate immunity initiates inflammation.
- Adaptive immunity provides specificity and memory.
- Th1/Th17 drive autoimmune inflammation.
- Th2 drives allergic disease.
- COX pathway → prostaglandins.
- 5-LOX pathway → leukotrienes.
- NSAIDs block COX.
- COX-2 inhibitors selectively block inflammatory COX-2.
- Leukotriene modifiers block bronchoconstrictive leukotrienes.
- Corticosteroids suppress upstream inflammatory transcription.
- Biologics target specific cytokines.
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