Antigen Somatic

A somatic antigen is a type of cellular immune response in which the body reacts to extracellular antigens such as bacteria, viruses or tumor cells. Somatic antigens can be embedded in the cell membrane and are part of the normal anatomy of the cell. In an immune response to somatic antigens, the immune system is activated, leading to the production of antibodies and protective cells such as lymphocytes.

Somatic antigen plays an important role in protecting the body from infections and tumors. For example, lymphocytes recognize and destroy tumor cells that have antigenic determinants identical to the antigens of healthy cells. However, under certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, the immune response to a somatic antigen can become pathological, leading to the destruction of healthy cells in the body.

One example of an autoimmune disease associated with a somatic antigen is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by the destruction of thyroid cells by the body's own antibodies. In this case, the immune system attacks somatic antigens of the thyroid gland, mistaking them for foreign and leading to the destruction of gland cells, which causes a lack of thyroid hormones in the body.

The role of somatic antigen in oncology is also the subject of research. Repeated studies have shown that patients with several types of cancer have similar antigen profiles between normal cells and malignant cells. This indicates that cancer may arise as a result of the destruction of normal cells by somatic antigens, rather than the degeneration of healthy cells into malignant ones.

The use of antibodies against somatic antigens is a promising direction in the field of oncoimmunology. Research on proteins on cell surfaces (called surface antigens) has enabled the development of technologies to individually identify malignant cells and target them with immune cells and immunotherapies. However, when using antibodies against somatic antigens in oncological therapy, possible side effects associated with activation of the immune system should be taken into account. First of all, the use of antibodies can cause a number of allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, rashes and other hypersensitivity symptoms. Other possible adverse reactions include immunosuppression, cytokine release syndrome, and toxic shock.

Thus, the somatic antigen is an important object of study in immunology and oncology. Its role in the immune system's responses to pathogens and in the development of cancer may be an important factor in the development of treatments for diseases.