Annual Report 2003 Aventis - Sanofi
Annual Report 2003 Aventis - Sanofi
Annual Report 2003 Aventis - Sanofi
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Medical Background<br />
An allergy is an overreaction or hypersensitivity<br />
of the body‘s immune system to specifi c substances<br />
or allergens. These substances may include pollens,<br />
molds, house dust mites, animal dander and insect<br />
bites.<br />
A healthy immune system fi ghts illness by attacking<br />
harmful invaders, such as bacteria, viruses,<br />
and parasites. But in people with allergies, the<br />
immune system mistakes a harmless substance such<br />
as pollen or dust for a harmful substance it must<br />
destroy. When a person with allergies is exposed to<br />
a specifi c allergen, the immune system creates antibodies<br />
to fi ght the dangerous invader. The antibodies<br />
specifi cally associated with allergies are called<br />
IgE antibodies.<br />
IgE stands for the substance immunoglobulinE,<br />
a protein in the immune system that acts like a<br />
<strong>Aventis</strong> approaches to treat asthma<br />
Allergens T cells<br />
Antigenpresenting<br />
cells<br />
Imunomodulators<br />
*LSAIDs: Leukocyte<br />
selective antiinflammatory<br />
drugs<br />
Acute<br />
reaction<br />
Sensitization<br />
Chronic<br />
inflammation<br />
TH2<br />
cells<br />
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