kohdeantigeenejä

Kohdeantigeeni is a Finnish term that translates to "target antigen" in English. In immunology and medicine, a target antigen is a specific molecule, usually a protein or carbohydrate, that is recognized by the immune system. This recognition can occur in several contexts, including during an immune response to a pathogen, in autoimmune diseases, or in the development of vaccines and targeted therapies.

When the immune system encounters a foreign substance like a virus or bacterium, it identifies specific parts of that foreign entity as antigens. These antigens trigger an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies or the activation of immune cells like T cells. In the case of autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly identifies the body's own molecules as target antigens and attacks them, leading to tissue damage.

In vaccine development, scientists aim to introduce specific antigens from a pathogen into the body. This primes the immune system to recognize and fight off the actual pathogen if encountered later. Similarly, in cancer therapy, researchers are developing treatments that target specific antigens found on cancer cells, allowing the immune system to selectively eliminate cancerous cells without harming healthy tissues. Understanding target antigens is therefore crucial for diagnosing and treating a wide range of diseases and for developing effective immunotherapies.