On the 14th of November, Eveline in ‘t Veld successfully defended her PhD thesis on monitoring immune responsiveness. The immune system is generally well-regulated, the use of immunomodulatory drugs can result in an over- or underactive immune response. Precise selection and dosing of these type of medication is essential to prevent adverse effects. Monitoring of immune functionality, referred to as immunomonitoring, can be a useful approach to monitor the effects of immunomodulatory drugs on their proximal targets.
In the first section of the thesis the search for biomarkers to monitor the immune function under treatment for transplant patients is described. Since traditional therapeutic drug monitoring may not reflect the drug's pharmacological activity, monitoring the patient’s immunological status might offer a more effective way to balance treatment efficacy and safety. This thesis explored improved methods for monitoring the immune system, highlighting biomarkers that provide a comprehensive view of T cell function and may be applicable to other conditions and immunemodulating drugs.
In the second part of the thesis similar methods of immunomonitoring were used to gain a better insight in the mechanism of action and the dose-effect relationship of the immunosuppressant Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). During the COVID-19 pandemic, HCQ’s potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 prompted numerous clinical trials to explore its use in treatment and prevention. The thesis demonstrated significant immunomodulatory effects of HCQ in vitro. However, the ex vivo immune response to a 5-day treatment was limited, highlighting that further investigation is needed to better understand HCQ's pharmacological role in autoimmune conditions.
Find the thesis here
