The Immune System, Involvement in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ageing and Cancer

Abstract

This short review was designed to draw the readership's attention to the following articles in the volume. Instead of providing a full summary of topics such as ageing of the immune system and the role of the immune system in ageing, the role of the immune system in the development of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, it signalizes these topics and provides links to articles that follow as well as to other available literature. Our intention was to provide a new perspective and strengthen the associations between inflammation, cancer, neuro-degenerative diseases, ageing and autoimmunity. The relationship between inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, neurodegeneration and cancer is already, to a certain extent mirrored by attempts of the pharmacologic industry to cross-apply our current knowledge from these fields to develop new treatment modalities. For instance, strategies that modulate cellular redox potential are being applied to restrain inflammation (antioxidants), or to kill cancer cells (prooxidants). Activation of apoptosis or attenuation of resistance of transformed cells towards cell death induction is perhaps the most promising direction chosen by many pharmaceutical companies to develop new classes of drugs. Furthermore, rapidly developing areas of immunology and virology, combined with the tremendous progress in the field of cancer biology and pharmacogenomics, may lead to the occurrence of an unique treatment, based on anti-cancer viral vectors and even anti-inflammatory strategies, which combine multiple pharmacologic activities in a single bio-molecule.

Electrolytes and Trace Elements in Human Breast Cyst Fluid

“…Since zinc plays a critical structural role for SOD, loss of zinc from biological membranes increases their susceptibility to oxidative damage and impairs their function. The oxidative stress may cause damage to various cellular organelles as well as DNA strand breaks with the subsequent activation of cell death programs [50]. Thus, zinc deficiency, not only directly by the lack of Zn as a cofactor for metalloproteins but also indirectly as an effect of oxidative stress within the cell, may have serious health consequences [51].…”

Targeting the EGFR Pathway for Cancer Therapy

“…It is expected that as we learn how to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of antibodies and how to diminish their adverse interactions with the immune system, monoclonal antibodies will gain importance as therapeutic molecules, either alone or in combination with the "classical" cancer radio-and chemotherapy. Factor-like growth factor IL = Interleukin As our knowledge on cancer patho-biology expands, it is plausible to predict that at least in some cases, monoclonal antibodies will eventually be eliminated from the clinic in favor of biologically active peptides, peptidomimetics, 'small molecule' inhibitors, or perhaps even by the classical cancer immuno-therapy [75,76]. For example Pertuzumab's dimerization-inhibitory activity (inhibits HER dimerization), will certainly one day be achieved by small molecules or at least peptidomimetics.…”

Cancer-selective therapy of the future: Apoptin and its mechanism of action

“…(1) Since our immune system can recognize and remove "changed proteins", immunostimulation is becoming a promising, individualized and selective approach towards curing cancer and other diseases. [104][105][106][107][108] (2) Every human being is genetically unique and this individuality plays a role in how well an individual responds to a particular drug. A drug administered to one patient may show no improvement, in comparison to another patient for whom the same drug has completely cured them.…”