Immunogenetics

The Immunogenetics deals with the genetic basis of the immune response. It examines diseases that affect both the immune system and are genetically predisposed. The basis of immunogenetic studies are genetic analyzes.

What is immunogenetics?

Immunogenetics is a sub-discipline of genetics. It is derived from the merging of the medical fields of genetics and immunology. Genetics studies the inheritance of traits from one generation to the next through the transmission of the genetic code stored on the genes.

Immunology, on the other hand, is the study of the biochemical basis of the body's defense against pathogens, toxins and degenerated endogenous cells. The term immunogenetics covers all processes that are both genetically based and affect the immune system. Research activities in the field of immunogenetics have increased in recent years. The questions about the course of diseases on the basis of genetic dispositions and the possibility of influencing them with certain active ingredients (gene therapy) are of particular interest.

Treatments & therapies

Immunogenetics examines genetically triggered immunological processes. Mainly it is about the detection and treatment of diseases that are based on immunogenetic processes. There is also an overlap with the genetics and immunology departments.

Particular attention is paid to autoimmunological processes. These are autoimmune diseases in which the immune system turns against the body's own tissue. The processes that lead to the development of these diseases are not yet fully understood. It is known, however, that there must be a genetic predisposition to autoimmune diseases. During a normal immunological reaction, invading pathogens or foreign substances are fended off by the body's own immune cells (T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes). These are recognized as foreign. In an autoimmune disease, T lymphocytes mainly attack and destroy the body's own cells. It is assumed that the antigens on the surface of the cell sometimes have similar genetic properties to certain pathogens.

However, the immune system should have a certain tolerance in order to accept the supposedly foreign genetic code. If this is not the case, an autoimmune disease occurs. Autoimmune diseases include type I diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease and many more. Any organ can be affected. To date, there are no therapies available that can cure the cause of an autoimmune disorder. So far, symptomatic treatments that dampen the immune system have been carried out. In the context of immunogenetics, however, methods are being sought that can completely combat autoimmune diseases. There are many indications that gene therapies will help cure these diseases in the future.

In the context of immunogenetics, diseases that are based on a genetically determined immune deficiency are of course also examined. However, congenital immunodeficiencies are rare. Usually only symptomatic treatments can be carried out here today. Antibody preparations from foreign blood are regularly applied. The only option for a complete cure is currently through a stem cell transplant, which transfers a new defense system. Within immunogenetics, research is also carried out on gene therapies that are intended to cure such serious diseases.

Furthermore, immunogenetics also plays a role in organ transplants. Suitable donors must be found here by means of genetic tests. Certain genetic characteristics of the recipient and donor must be similar. Otherwise the recipient's immune system would reject the newly implanted organ immediately. In the broadest sense, however, immunogenetics also includes the investigation of bacteria with regard to the development of resistance to antibiotics. At the same time, the constant genetic changes in bacterial strains and viruses are being investigated in order to be able to develop vaccines as early as possible.

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Diagnosis & examination methods

Immunological laboratory methods are available for diagnostics in the context of immunogenetics. These laboratory methods are used on the one hand to detect diseases and on the other hand for research purposes. Antigens and antibodies are analyzed using so-called immunassays. Immunassays are methods that are used for the quantitative and qualitative detection of certain structures in liquids for specifying antigens and antibodies.

They detect both pathogens and the body's own proteins. In the case of autoimmune diseases, but also in the case of infections and allergies, immunassays can be used to detect specific antibodies. With the help of these methods, the molecular genetic characterization of certain histocompatibility markers ensures the greatest possible match between recipient and donor in organ transplants. The term major histocompatibility complex (MHC) refers to a group of human genes that are essential for the functioning of the immune system. Another name for this complex is the human leukocyte antigen system (HLA system).

The HLA characteristics differ from person to person. You can vary greatly between recipient and donor. The laboratory test to determine the HLA characteristics now means that suitable donors have to be found for an organ transplant. At the same time, many laboratories also perform HLA tests to examine autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease or other diseases. Corresponding tests are also carried out for blood donors. To determine HLA characteristics, either swab swabs from the cheek mucosa or tissue samples are taken.

In addition, other examinations such as KIR diagnostics, the determination of interleukin polymorphisms or the search for mutations can be carried out. In KIR diagnostics, for example, KIR genes are examined that are expressed on killer cells and bind certain HLA molecules. There is evidence that the KIR genes also play an important role in blood stem cell transplants. Many research results in immunogenetics show the potential of this field with regard to the future chances of a cure for previously incurable diseases.