Evolution of vertebrate immunity

All multicellular organisms protect themselves against pathogens using sophisticated immune defenses. Functionally interconnected humoral and cellular facilities maintain immune homeostasis in the absence of overt infection and regulate the initiation and termination of immune responses directed aga...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current biology Vol. 22; no. 17; p. R722
Main Author: Boehm, Thomas
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England 11.09.2012
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological
Animals
Biological Evolution
Humans
Immune System Diseases - epidemiology
Immune System Phenomena
Models, Immunological
Vertebrates - immunology
ISSN:1879-0445, 1879-0445
Online Access:Get more information
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:All multicellular organisms protect themselves against pathogens using sophisticated immune defenses. Functionally interconnected humoral and cellular facilities maintain immune homeostasis in the absence of overt infection and regulate the initiation and termination of immune responses directed against pathogens. Immune responses of invertebrates, such as flies, are innate and usually stereotyped; those of vertebrates, encompassing species as diverse as jawless fish and humans, are additionally adaptive, enabling more rapid and efficient immune reactivity upon repeated encounters with a pathogen. Many of the attributes historically defining innate and adaptive immunity are in fact common to both, blurring their functional distinction and emphasizing shared ancestry and co-evolution. These findings provide indications of the evolutionary forces underlying the origin of somatic diversification of antigen receptors and contribute to our understanding of the complex phenotypes of human immune disorders. Moreover, informed by phylogenetic considerations and inspired by improved knowledge of functional networks, new avenues emerge for innovative therapeutic strategies.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
ObjectType-Review-3
content type line 23
ISSN:1879-0445
1879-0445
DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2012.07.003