By Teri Farley


Everyday scientists and medical doctors work together to discover possible treatments, more likely a better one, for various medical diseases. Up until now, several medical conditions remain incurable such as AIDS and Cancer. But with continuous medical study and experimentation, some experiments have shown promising results, for an instance in autoimmune diseases such as that with liposomal clodronate.

The results concerning clodronate liposome therapy has been quite fascinating. It showed a strong performance in suppressing the immune system which gave a new hope for rejected transplant patients as well as those that have been suffering on the worst stage of their autoimmune disease. Additionally, such therapy also showed positive results in conjunction with cancer drugs.

There are countless of cells that make up the immune system, macrophages however is said be the core of it. Its primary function is to activate natural immunity and regulate non-phagocytic cells. Macrophages play an important role in natural immune response and immunity, and are responsible in maintaining homeostasis by ingesting and digesting microorganism.

Clodronic acids is a first generation biphosphonate was originally used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and reduce the risk of hyperparathyroidism, vertebral fractures, fracture related pain and hypercalcemia. It was during this time that the drug was discovered to have an effect in the immune system by reducing certain inflammatory markers.

Macrophages can be a good thing or bad thing. For an instance, in simple virus infection the macrophages will be the one to fight with the virus thus preventing further infection. But in certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and so on, macrophages are fighting against your healthy cells which caused such diseases.

More so, during transplant cases transplant rejection is not uncommon as the immune system may attack the new organ transplanted to the patients. To prevent this phenomenon, medical doctors most often than not start immunosupressive treatments to suppress the immune system and prevent it from attacking the transplanted organ, or in autoimmune diseases your healthy cells.

Using the liposomes as a drug vehicle, clodronic acid will be delivered into your phagocytic cell, or macrophages damaging it irreversibly then kills it eventually through apoptosis. Aptly name as the macrophage "suicide'', this will result to a decreased or minimal immune reaction hence patients with autoimmune disease may show improvement from their condition.

With the discovery of clodronic acid therapy, these possibilities may be the least of your concerns. Through the use of liposomes as the drug vehicle the main drug, clodronic acid will be delivered inside the macrophages and after exceeding its threshold, dies by apoptosis. Liposomes are easily engulfed by macrophages which makes it a great choice as a drug vehicle. As the drug is delivered directly into the phagocytic cells, there's a greater chance of suppressing the immune system.

Liposomal clodronate showed exemplary results in autoimmune diseases, transplant and cancer. It would not be much of a surprise if it becomes the next big thing in medicine. That is, if it's still not considered one until now.




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