Introductory Immunology

Jeffrey K. Actor, PhD, is a professor and Medical Immunology Course Director in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Center at Houston. Dr. Actor received his PhD degree from the University of Massachusetts. His research interests include examination of host immune responses during pathogenic disease, understanding proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines during mycobacterial infections, vaccine development, and molecular mechanisms of adjuvant-induced immunomodulation. Professor Actor has established himself as a productive educator-scientist with a strong background in immunology and molecular biology with a broad range of expertise in pathobiology. He has shown his commitment to education and excellence, at both the Medical School and Graduate School levels.

Preface Acknowledgments

1. A functional overview of the immune system and components Chapter focus Immune homeostasis Self versus nonself Innate and adaptive immunity Anatomy of the immune system Cells of the immune system First-line defenders: the myeloid cells Adaptive avengers: the lymphoid cells Lymphocytes Cluster of differentiation Summary

2. The inflammatory response Chapter focus Inflammation Initiation of the inflammatory response The role of antibodies in inflammation Biological functions of complement Activation and directed migration of leukocytes Pathogen recognition and cytokine signaling Feedback and adaptation from a distance Pathological consequences of the inflammatory Response Summary

3. The B lymphocyte: antibodies and how they function Chapter focus B lymphocytes produce antibodies Structural characteristics of immunoglobulins Immunoglobulin nomenclature Biologic properties of antibody isotypes IgD IgM IgG IgA IgE Kinetics of antibody response Membrane-bound immunoglobulin Development of B cells Antibody gene recombination Development and selection of mature B cells Activation and differentiation of B cells Summary

4. T lymphocytes: ringleaders of adaptive immune function Chapter focus T lymphocytes: specific and long-lasting immunity The T cell receptor T-cell development Antigen recognition by T cells: requirement of major histocompatibility molecules The HLA locus MHC class I MHC class II T lymphocyte functions CD4 1 T-helper cells Events involved in T lymphocyte activation Role of T cells in B-cell activation Cytotoxic T-cell effectors CD8 1 T cells Other lymphocyte phenotypes ?d T cells Innate lymphocytes Natural killer T (NKT) cells Superantigens Summary

5. How we defend against infectious agents Chapter focus Immune homeostasis and pathogenic organisms Major immune defense mechanisms against pathogens Physical barriers to infection Anatomic barrier Physiological barrier Phagocytic and endocytic barriers Inflammatory barriers Bacterial infections Microbial motifs detected through pattern-recognition receptors Mycobacterial infections Viral infections Human immunodeficiency virus Parasitic infections (helminths) Fungal infections Evasion of immune response Summary

6. Basic disorders of immune function Chapter focus Immunodeficiency disorders Genetic basis for primary immunodeficiency Innate deficiencies Chronic granulomatous disease/myeloperoxidase deficiency Leukocyte adhesion deficiency Chediak 7. Autoimmunity: regulation of response to self Chapter focus Homeostasis, immune regulation, and autoimmunity Tolerance to self Etiology of autoimmune disease Role of autoantibodies and self-reactive T lymphocytes in autoimmune disorders Laboratory tests for autoimmunity Targeted therapeutics Summary

8. Immune hypersensitivities Chapter focus Hypersensitive disorders Type I hypersensitivity: immunoglobulin E 9. Vaccines and immunotherapy Chapter focus Principles of vaccination Basic concepts of protective immunization Types of immunizations Age and timing of immunizations Vaccine types and components Immunologic adjuvants Passive immunization Therapeutic uses of immunoglobulins Other ways to modify immunity Summary

10. Cancer immunology Chapter focus Understanding immune defenses against cancers Tumor antigens Effector mechanisms in tumor immunity Natural killer cells and innate response to tumor cells Adaptive response to tumor cells Escape mechanisms of tumor elimination Tumors of the immune system Immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy Summary

11. Transplantation immunology Chapter focus Transplantation defined Tissue histocompatibility Natural isohemagglutinins Human leukocyte antigens Allograft rejection Hyperacute rejection Accelerated rejection Acute rejection Chronic rejection Graft-versus-host disease Pretransplantation histocompatibility evaluation Immunosuppressive drugs to prevent allograft rejection Immunosuppressive therapy Summary

12. Assessment of immune parameters and immunodiagnostics Chapter focus Antibody