Search

First Published in 1987: The problems which have been selected for this volume deal with those most commonly observed in in vivo events, such as antigenic stimulation and lymphocyte traffic, migration of natural killer cells, regulation of lymphocyte traffic by adrenal hormones.

Insights into the regulation of immune cell lineage differentiation and specification as well as into the control of lineage integrity, stability and plasticity are of fundamental importance to understanding innate and adaptive immune responses. In this volume, leading experts provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of recent advances in the transcriptional control mechanisms and transcription factor networks that regulate these processes in a variety of different immune cell lineages. The chapters cover the regulation of T versus B cell lineage choice, discuss early B cell development and pre-B cell leukemia prevention, address transcriptional control mechanisms during the differentiation, in regulatory T cells and iNKT cells, detail genomic switches in helper cell fate choice and plasticity and highlight the role of the BTB-zinc finger family of transcription factors in T cells. Moreover, the chapters discuss transcriptional networks in DCs, NK cells and in innate lymphoid cells. Together, the reviews illustrate key transcriptional control mechanisms that regulate the development and function of immune cells and demonstrate the impressive advances made over the last decade.

The studies described in this volume serve as a starting point to familiarize one self with the multifarious differences in epigenetic designs that orchestrate the progression of developing blood cells. They also may serve as a general paradigm for the mechanisms that underpin the control of eukaryotic gene expression.

The study of mental health disorders and the genetics behind these disorders can be greatly enhanced by the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Since many mental health disorders develop after puberty, the only way in which to study the genetic mechanism of these diseases previously was through cellular surrogates, such as blood or cultured fibroblasts. Having the ability to reprogram adult cells to the pluripotent stage provides the capacity to study the onset of these disorders during a culture model of neural development and to include the impact of genetic risk factors and potential environmental triggers. Working with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Rutgers Cell and DNA Repository (RUCDR) has begun banking iPSC source cells and converting those source cells into iPSC for distribution to the scientific community. Although initial protocols were developed to reprogram fibroblasts, the ability to reprogram blood cells has several advantages including less invasive collection, less post collection manipulation, and the large number of samples in existing collections. Here, we provide detailed protocols for reprogramming either fibroblasts with retroviral vectors or cryopreserved lymphocytes with Sendai viral vectors. Our goal is to support the discovery of effective treatments for mental health disorders.

Natural Killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes of the innate immune system. They are widespread throughout the body, being present in both lymphoid organs and non-lymphoid peripheral tissues. NK cells are involved in direct innate immune reactions against viruses, bacteria, parasites and other triggers of pathology, such as malignant transformation, all of which cause stress in affected cells. Importantly, NK cells also link the innate and adaptive immune responses, contributing to the initiation of adaptive immune responses and executing adaptive responses using the CD16 FcgRIIIA immunoglobulin Fc receptor. Such responses are mediated through two major effector functions, the direct cytolysis of target cells and the production of cytokines and chemokines. The authors focus here on the nature of recognition events by NK cells and address how these events are integrated to trigger these distinct and graded effector functions.

Since the discovery of chemokines and of chemokine receptors it has become evident that expression of chemokines at the site of inflammation may regulate the composition of cellular infiltrate, thereby directing the type of immune response. Recently, the molecular characterization of inherited disorders of immune system, (e.g., Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, WHIM syndrome, leukocyte adhesion deficiency), which are characterized by cytoskeleton/adhesion defects or by altered response of chemokine receptors has contributed to clarifying the key players of immune response in normal physiology and in disease. This book, which deals with the description of the role of chemokines in immune response and underlines potential targets of therapeutical intervention, offers a series of contributions of the most challenging aspects of lymphocyte migration in homeostasis and in disease.

The existence of a unique kind of immune cell – the killer lymphocyt- which destroys other cells in a highly specific manner, has fascinated immunologists for almost half a century. How do these cells, whose precursors have lived in communal harmony with their host, decide that some of their cohabitants must die? And how do they kill them? The definition of killer lymphocytes came from discovery of their roles in a wide range of in vivo phenomena such as transplant rejection, virus infection and its related immunopathologies, and anti-tumor responses. Yet for the most part almost everything we know about these cells has come from studying them in vitro. They have yielded their secrets slowly and reluctantly. To understand fully how they work, geneticists and immunologists had to unravel the major histocompatibility systems of vertebrates, a long and torturous road that provided some of the darkest hours of immunology. The search for antigen-sensing receptors on both T cells and NK cells was scarcely less frustrating. And the holy grail of ce- mediated cytotoxicity – defining the mechanism by which killer cells take down their adversaries – sorely tested the ingenuity, patience and mutual good will of laboratories around the world. These questions have now largely been answered. But do we really understand these cells? We can tame them to a large degree in transplant rejection. It may yet turn out that we can harness their immunotherapeutic potential in treating viral and malignant disease.

Epithelial defense against infectious agents relies on the recognition of microbial products by pattern recognition receptors and the local production of antimicrobial peptides. This book provides a state-of-the-art overview of the basic characteristics and clinical relevance of antimicrobial peptides, with special emphasis on their role in skin, intestinal and lung inflammation. The evolutionary significance of antimicrobial peptides is highlighted by an in-depth analysis of their structure, activity and gene regulation in Drosophila melanogaster. Toll-like receptors are an important class of pattern recognition receptors, whose roles in recognizing bacterial molecular patterns and in the intracellular signalling pathways involved in the differentiation and function of dendritic cells are discussed. Finally, this book also addresses the role of intraepithelial lympho cytes in epithelial defense, notably of gammadelta T cells which form a link between innate and adaptive immune responses. The combined analysis of epithelial and lymphoid cells and effector mechanisms sheds new light on the epithelial defense system in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Immunologists, dermatologists, microbiologists, and infectious disease specialists will greatly benefit from the wealth of new findings presented by leading investigators.

Over the last several years, immunologists have re-discovered the importance of regulatory lymphocytes, formerly termed'suppressor cells'. Many recent reports have documented their existence, effector functions and potential therapeutic benefits in autoimmunity and transplantation. However, even though modern techniques have allowed us to get a much more detailed picture of these cells, they are still highly controversial. Several unresolved issues responsible for this dilemma are discussed in this book: it is difficult to grow and clone such cells, their phenotypes and effector functions are diverse and can sometimes easily be lost, and it is not well understood how they interact with antigen-presenting cells. This book contains contributions from leading investigators from around the world, including lively discussion of the current state of the art in studies of regulatory lymphocytes. Topics featured are the physiological control of autoimmunity, the role of antigen-specific cells in various diseases and disease models and effector mechanisms. Therapeutic applications are considered, particularly for type 1 diabetes, tissue transplantation and the control of viral infection. This important and groundbreaking book should be of interest to all immunologists. Related Novartis Foundation symposia: 254 Immunoinformatics: bioinformatic strategies for better understanding of immune functionChair: Hans-Georg Rammensee 256 Cancer and inflammationChair: Siamon Gordon

In Natural Killer Cell Protocols: Cellular and Molecular Methods, Kerry S. Campbell and Marco Colonna have assembled a comprehensive collection of readily reproducible methods designed to study natural killer (NK) cells from the broadest variety of viewpoints. These include not only classic techniques, but also new approaches to standard methods, newly evolved techniques that have become valuable for specific applications, and unique models for manipulating and studying NK cells. Among the advanced methods covered are those for in vitro transendothelial migration, in vivo detection of cells migrating into tumors, immunofluorescence staining of intracellular cytokines, and in vitro NK cell development. Valuable techniques for specific applications include vaccinia virus protein expression, soluble KIR-Fc fusions for HLA class I binding assays, calcium mobilization in cell conjugates, and identification of heterodimeric receptor complexes using cDNA library expression cloning. No less important are accounts of such classic methods as hybrid resistance, ADCC, viral defense, target cell cytotoxicity assays, cloning and culturing, tumor immunotherapy, and generation of HLA class I transfected target cells. Natural Killer Cell Protocols: Cellular and Molecular Methods offers immunologists, cancer researchers, virologists, and cell biologists today's most comprehensive collection of both established and cutting-edge techniques, methods that will contribute significantly to advancing our understanding of this fascinating and critically important class of cells.

Lymphocyte Differentiation, Recognition, and Regulation provides an overview of the state of knowledge on cellular immunology. The focus is on animal work than on studies in man, although in certain areas human lymphocyte biology has been discussed in some detail. The book attempts to integrate information from diverse areas of cellular immunology, immunogenetics, and immunochemistry to form some cohesive concepts that can be perhaps utilized as a working foundation for students and investigators in various areas of immunology. The book begins with a general description of some of techniques and principles underlying the systems frequently employed in cellular immunology. This is followed by detailed analyses of lymphocyte differentiation, receptor function, and regulatory processes. The main points that emerge from such analyses are that the immune system is an infinitely complex and finely tuned network of cells, receptors, and molecules which interact with one another in a genetically controlled manner that is manifested ultimately in the process known as differentiation.

Antigens, Lymphoid Cells, and the Immune Response deals with the nature and properties of antigens and with the functional anatomy and cell physiology of the mammalian lymphoid system which responds to antigens. The book discusses the central questions in cellular immunology; the antigens and the afferent limb of the immune response; and antibodies and the afferent limb of the immune response. The text also describes the organ distribution of antigens; the functional anatomy of the lymphoid system; and the behavior patterns of lymphoid cells. The microscopic and electron microscopic distribution of antigen in lymphoid organs; the interaction of antigens with cells of the reticuloendothelial system; and the interaction of antigen with lymphoid cells are also considered. The book further tackles the role of antigen in immunological tolerance; antibody production and tolerance dissociated; and antigen and lymphoid cells.

B cells used to be considered as a homogeneous population of cells destined to produce antibodies of increasing affinity and to maintain an immunological memory. In recent years, it has been determined that B cells can be subdivided into different subsets characterized by distinct morphologic, phenotypic, and functional features. Presenting results of research work on the definition of B cell subset populations, this book explains the basic mechanisms that control B cell activation, stimulation and regulation. Articles include studies on both normal and malignant B cells and describe the mechanisms underlying T-B cell interactions during the immune response. The most important advances in the field of immunodeficiency are also reported. This volume will be essential not only for basic and clinical immunologists, but also for hematologists, pathologists and rheumatologists with a special interest in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative or autoimmune disorders.

To compile this up-to-date handbook, Dr. Charles Snow of the University of Kentucky Medical Center has assembled works by a premier group of active investigators who meet the needs of todays researchers. The handbookprovides a broad overview of the historical and current research in B- and T-cell biology, and presents the latest developments in this fast-breaking field to all professionals concerned with the humoral immune response of the body.

Immune Recognition is a modified compilation of an experimental leukocyte culture conference about various aspects of macrophage and lymphocyte biology in relation to the eponymous central theme. The book is divided into nine sections. Section I covers non-antigenic signals and receptors for lymphocyte activation; the recognition of chemically modified autologous cells; surface membrane saccharides; and B and T cell activation. Section II is about antigenic signals; the activation of macrophages; and the induction of autosensitization of initiator lymphocytes. Sections III and IV discuss the early membrane and biochemical events in lymphocyte activation. Sections V to IX cover the coupling of cytoplasmic and nuclear events to membrane cycles; cellular and molecular basis of cell recognition and interaction in nonlymphocyte systems; the genetic control of immunocompetent cell interactions; and cellular mechanisms that regulate the immune response. The text is intended for doctors who specialize in immunology and want to know more about the different factors that cause the recognition of the immune system.