IMMUNOREGULATORY BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE MODIFIERS - EFFECT OF CYTOKINES ON SEPTIC SHOCK

WHOLE bacteria or bacterial components or their extracts were employed to restore or augment the immune system. Beneficial effects were atta ined with these agents in treating various diseases. These agents were named biological response modifiers (BRMs) because they regulated cer tain cellular components of the immune system. The cellular regulation induced by these BRMs was found to be due to cytokines. The cytokines were shown to act directly on the various cellular components and to provide therapeutic benefit in various autoimmune and immune deficienc y diseases. Overproduction of specific cytokines however leads to a de leterious effect on the host. Overproduction of tumour necrosis factor (endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide) leads to septic shock. Bacteraemia is the leading cause of overproduction of tumour necrosis factor (TNF). Septic shock in many cases leads to death. Several monoclonal antibodi es to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and anticytokines have demonstrated pro tection against septic shock.