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by:
Donna Chow, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada Lóránd Bertók, “Fodor József” National Center of Public Health and “Frédéric
Joliot-Curie” National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene,
H-1221 Anna u. 5, Budapest, Hungary.
Published
by: Elsevier Science
Description: Showcases the significant expansion in the understanding of the scope of natural immunity in order to strengthen the basis for fundamental and applied research. Topics covered include host defense mechanisms, the natural immune system, and regulation. Audience: Neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, immunologists, endocrinologists, physiologists, practising clinicians, veterinarians, animal scientists. Contents: NATURAL IMMUNITY Foreword: Istvan Berczi, Lóránd Bertók and, Donna A. Chow Preface: Donna A. Chow SECTION I. Host Defense Mechanisms Host Defense: An Interaction of Neuroendocrine, Metabolic and Immune Mechanisms
in the Interest of Survival.
SECTION II. Epithelial, Secretory and Endogenous Host Defense Antimicrobial Peptides - The Defense Never Rests.
Endogenous Cytoprotective Mechanisms.
The Role of Bile Acids in Natural Resistance: Physico-Chemical Host Defense
SECTION III. The Natural Immune System. A Historical Introduction of Natural Killer (NK) Cells and Current Status
of Their Role in Host Defenses
The Role of the Reticuloendothelial System in Natural Immunity
Effector Mechanisms of Natural Immunity: an Invertebrate Perspective
Natural Immune Activation: Stimulators/Receptors.
Signalling in Natural Immunity: Natural Killer Cells
Pathogen recognition by Toll-like Receptors
SECTION 1V: Regulation of Natural Immunity Molecular Control of leukocyte Trafficking - Internal Regulatory Circuits
of the Immune System: Leukocyte Circulation and Homing.
Neuroendocrine Regulation of Natural Immunity.
Natural Immunity -Effect of Exercise.
New
Prospect for the Enhancement of Natural Immunity.
SECTION V: Physiological, Pathological and Behavioral Significance. Physiological Regulation by the Natural Immune System
Pathological Relevance of the Natural Immune System
Behavioral Mechanisms for Defense Against Pathogens
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Article reprint used with permission, NIB 2005;(Vol:5: v-vii) Foreword Susceptibility and resistance to disease have been known to people since prehistoric times. Catastrophic epidemic diseases in medieval times provided ample evidence for both of these concepts. Environmental effects were also identified as one of the factors that affect resistance to disease. The expression “catching a cold” refers to this association. Pasteur made observations between the relationship of chicken cholera (pasteurellosis) and the weather and Koch examined the effect of swimming in cold water on the susceptibility of chickens to anthrax [1]. Mediaeval shepherds knew that if they saved the scabs from pox lesions and inoculated young animals with this material, the disease could be prevented. Jenner and Ehrlich popularized this knowledge and the concept of adaptive immunity was born [2]. However, it was clear from numerous examples that adaptive immunity was not fully responsible for resistance to disease. With the advent of virology, it became apparent that there is species specific resistance. This means that a particular virus cannot cause disease in some host species but it could do it in other species. This is also true for bacteria, but the host-restrictions are often not as strict as for viruses. It was also obvious that healthy animals and human beings do demonstrate nonspecific resistance to infections and a number of other insults, which may be caused by diverse noxious agents. The term “nonspecific” was adopted in relation to adaptive immunity, which is antigen specific. Hans Selye described a syndrome elicited by diverse noxious agents [3], which he later named the stress response that resulted to elevated resistance to countless stressors. Physical, chemical, biological and in man even emotional agents could act as stressors. During the stress response the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis was activated, the thymus exhibited a profound shrinkage, atrophy of lymphoid organs and immunosuppression also occurred, except for gamma globulin, which was elevated. Stressed animals showed increased resistance to numerous noxious insults, and this was named by Selye the general adaptation syndrome[4]. Selye knew that in some way he was dealing with the immune system, but it was not possible to understand in those days the mechanisms involved. All that immunologists could see at the time was that the thymus was involuted and adaptive immunity was seriously suppressed or even eliminated by stress. This was in sharp contrast with Selye's conclusion that the stress response was an adaptive defence reaction. In this book the natural immune system is presented. Its relationship to the adaptive immune system, the neuroendocrine system and to the entire host organism is discussed. This is the system we are born with and it will be with us for life. Most species of the animal kingdom rely on this immune system as the adaptive system is found only in vertebrates. The natural immune system protects us not only from infectious agents, but also from various noxious agents, and during acute danger, this system kicks into high gear, which manifests in febrile illness. In contrast with the commonly held perception, fever is a defence reaction, called the acute phase response. It is a very successful defence response as most people with febrile illness recover and become healthy again. The natural immune system also plays important physiological roles as presented in this volume. Clearly this is an incredibly effective system, which protects us practically from any kind of insult, and it is able to increase our resistance with unparalleled efficiency. Innate immune mechanisms are deeply embedded in our development and physiology. This system provides the foundations for the adaptive immune system, which could not function or even exist without our innate system. There is little doubt that the recognition and appreciation of this system is a major milestone in Biology and is a perfect topic to be presented as volume 5 of Neuroimmune Biology.
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PREFACE: Donna A. Chow
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Neuroimmune Biology Volume 5
TO
visit Elsevier's web site for more information on Neuroimmune
Biology
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