Immunogenetics: Treatment, Effects & Risks

Immunogenetics deals with the genetic basis of the immune response. Within its scope, diseases are studied that both affect the immune system and are genetically predisposed. Genetic analyses form the basis of immunogenetic studies.

What is immunogenetics?

Immunogenetics is a subdiscipline of genetics. It is derived from the merging of the medical fields of genetics and immunology. Immunogenetics is a subdiscipline of genetics. It is derived from the fusion 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 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 have both a genetic basis and affect the immune system. In recent years, research activities in the field of immunogenetics have increased. Of particular interest are questions concerning the course of diseases based on genetic dispositions and the possibility of influencing them with certain agents (gene therapy).

Treatments and therapies

Immunogenetics studies genetically triggered immunological processes. It is mainly concerned with the detection and treatment of diseases based on immunogenetic processes. There is also overlap with the fields of genetics and immunology. Special attention is paid to autoimmunological processes. These are autoimmune diseases in which the immune system turns against the body’s own tissue. The processes leading to the development of these diseases are not yet fully understood. However, it is known that there must be a genetic disposition for autoimmune diseases. In a normal immunological reaction, invading pathogens or foreign substances are repelled by the body’s own immune cells (T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes). In the process, these are recognized as foreign. In an autoimmune disease, it is mainly T lymphocytes that attack and destroy the body’s own cells. Presumptions assume that the antigens on the surface of the cell partly have similar genetic properties as certain pathogens. However, the immune system should have a certain tolerance 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. Every organ can be affected. To date, there are no therapies available that can causally cure an autoimmune disorder. Until now, symptomatic treatments have been used to dampen the immune system. However, in the context of immunogenetics, methods are being sought that can completely combat autoimmune disorders. There are many indications that gene therapies will help to cure these diseases in the future. Of course, immunogenetics also investigates diseases caused by genetic immune deficiencies. However, congenital immunodeficiencies are rare. In most cases, only symptomatic treatments can be carried out here today. In this case, antibody preparations from foreign blood are regularly applied. At present, the only possibility for a complete cure is stem cell transplantation, whereby a new immune system is transferred. Within immunogenetics, research is also being conducted into gene therapies to cure such serious diseases. Furthermore, immunogenetics also plays a role in organ transplantation. Here, suitable donors must be found by means of genetic testing. Certain genetic characteristics of the recipient and donor must be similar. Otherwise, the recipient’s immune system would immediately reject the newly implanted organ. In the broadest sense, however, immunogenetics also includes the examination of bacteria with regard to the development of resistance to antibiotics. At the same time, the constant genetic modification of bacterial strains and viruses is also investigated in order to be able to develop vaccines as early as possible.

Diagnosis and examination methods

Immunological laboratory methods are available for diagnosis in the context of immunogenetics. These laboratory methods are performed on the one hand to detect diseases and on the other hand for research purposes. In this context, antigens and antibodies are analyzed by so-called immunoassays. Immunoassays represent procedures that serve the quantitative and qualitative detection of certain structures in liquids for the specification of antigens and antibodies. They are used to detect pathogens as well as the body’s own proteins. In the case of autoimmune diseases, but also in the case of infections and allergies, immunoassays can be used to detect specific antibodies. With the aid of these methods, the molecular genetic characterization of certain histocompatibility markers ensures the greatest possible match between recipient and donor in organ transplantation. The name major histocompatibility complex (MHC) refers to a group of human genes that are essential for the functioning of the immune system. Another name of this complex is the human leukocyte antigen system (HLA system). The HLA characteristics differ from person to person. They can differ greatly between recipient and donor. The laboratory test to determine the HLA characteristics must now be used to find suitable donors for organ transplantation. At the same time, many laboratories also perform HLA tests to investigate autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease or other diseases. Appropriate tests are also performed for blood donors. Either swabs from the buccal mucosa or tissue samples are taken to determine HLA characteristics. Furthermore, other tests such as KIR diagnostics, determination of interleukin polymorphisms or mutation search can be performed. In KIR diagnostics, for example, KIR genes are examined that are expressed on killer cells and bind certain HLA molecules. There is evidence that KIR genes also play an important role in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Many research findings in immunogenetics demonstrate the potential of this field with regard to future cures for previously incurable diseases.