A Major Role of the Macrophage in Quantitative Genetic Regulation of Immunoresponsiveness and Antiinfectious Immunity
- Category
- General Reference
- author-supplied keywords
- keywords
- authors
- title
- A Major Role of the Macrophage in Quantitative Genetic Regulation of Immunoresponsiveness and Antiinfectious Immunity
- type
- journal
- year
- 1984
- source
- Advances in Immunology
- pages
- 189-234
- volume
- 36
- issue
- C
Abstract
It is clear today that the immune system is constituted by a coordinated network of perfectly integrated and interacting cells and molecules subject to strict cooperation to ensure the highest possible efficiency in antiinfectious immunity. A simplified scheme of the immune system in higher vertebrates is represented in this chapter. The enzyme equipment of macrophage phagosomes endows these cells with bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity on ingested microorganisms, therefore, constituting the first important mechanism in antiinfectious defense. The metabolic activity of macrophages on engulfed antigens also regulates the specific response of T and B lymphocytes through a complex process of antigen handling and antigen presentation, establishing a sort of symbiotic relationship between lymphocytes and macrophages. There are two essential components in the immune response: one is specific and the other nonspecific. The specific response involves the stereospecific selective recognition. The nonspecific aspect of the immune response includes the handling of the phagocytized antigen and the rate at which the process of multiplication and differentiation of small lymphocytes takes place. The protective effect of specific vaccination is essentially based on immunological memory. The antibody molecules, according to their isotypes, play specialized defensive roles against various types of invading microorganisms, particularly in collaboration with the complement system, inducing bactericidal or opsonizing effects. © 1984, Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
Counts
- Citation count From Scopus. Refreshed every 5 days.
- Page views
- 0
Identifiers
- doi: 10.1016/S0065-2776(08)60902-5 (Google search)
- issn: 15578445
- sgr: 0021645736
- scopus: 2-s2.0-0021645736
- pui: 403886742