The innate immune system

Author(s):  
Paul Bowness

The innate immune system comprises evolutionarily ancient mechanisms that mediate first-line responses against microbial pathogens, and are also important in priming and execution of adaptive immune responses, and in defence against tumours. These responses, which recognize microbial non-self, damaged self, and absent self, are characterized by rapidity of action and lack of plasticity, ‘learning’, or memory, and they involve various different cell types, cell-associated receptors, and soluble factors....

2020 ◽  
pp. 307-314
Author(s):  
Paul Bowness

The innate immune system comprises evolutionarily ancient mechanisms that mediate first-line responses against microbial pathogens, and are also important in priming and execution of adaptive immune responses, and in defence against tumours. These responses, which recognize microbial non-self, damaged self, and absent self, are characterized by rapidity of action and they involve various different cell types, cell-associated receptors, and soluble factors. Previously thought to lack plasticity or memory, certain innate immune responses have recently been shown to be capable of ‘learning’ or ‘training’. Most cells of the innate immune system are derived from the myeloid precursors in the bone marrow. These include monocytes and their derivatives—macrophages and dendritic cells, blood granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils), and tissue mast cells.


Microbiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin K. Paterson ◽  
Tim J. Mitchell

The innate immune system provides a non-specific first line of defence against microbes and is crucial both in the development and effector stages of subsequent adaptive immune responses. Consistent with its importance, study of the innate immune system is a broad and fast-moving field. Here we provide an overview of the recent key advances made in this area with relation to the important pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus).


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  

Lithium (Li), a well-known immunomodulatory agent, has been in use for the treatment of several infectious diseases. Li mainly acts through GSK3β inactivation and several other signalling pathways, which are directly involved in the activation of innate immune system. Li therapy has been shown to cause effective modulation of various inflammatory cytokines, and has also been shown to boost immunity in several disease models. Apart from treatment for mania, Li has also been proved to be effective against infections caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and certain life-style disorders. Its effects, ranging from common defensive capabilities to complex pathways for protection of human body, make Li extraordinary. Thus, Li is an absolute requirement that can be a solution for some of the immune related disorders. This review mainly focuses on pharmacology, immune reactions of different cell types, and anti-infectious activities of Li.


2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 307-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth L Rosenthal

New and exciting insights into the importance of the innate immune system are revolutionizing our understanding of immune defense against infections, pathogenesis, and the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. The innate immune system uses multiple families of germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect infection and trigger a variety of antimicrobial defense mechanisms. PRRs are evolutionarily highly conserved and serve to detect infection by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns that are unique to microorganisms and essential for their survival. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are transmembrane signalling receptors that activate gene expression programs that result in the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, type I interferons and antimicrobial factors. Furthermore, TLR activation facilitates and guides activation of adaptive immune responses through the activation of dendritic cells. TLRs are localized on the cell surface and in endosomal/lysosomal compartments, where they detect bacterial and viral infections. In contrast, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain proteins and RNA helicases are located in the cell cytoplasm, where they serve as intracellular PRRs to detect cytoplasmic infections, particularly viruses. Due to their ability to enhance innate immune responses, novel strategies to use ligands, synthetic agonists or antagonists of PRRs (also known as 'innate immunologicals') can be used as stand-alone agents to provide immediate protection or treatment against bacterial, viral or parasitic infections. Furthermore, the newly appreciated importance of innate immunity in initiating and shaping adaptive immune responses is contributing to our understanding of vaccine adjuvants and promises to lead to improved next-generation vaccines.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. R123-R144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M K Law ◽  
Elgene Lim ◽  
Christopher J Ormandy ◽  
David Gallego-Ortega

A cancer cell-centric view has long dominated the field of cancer biology. Research efforts have focussed on aberrant cancer cell signalling pathways and on changes to cancer cell DNA. Mounting evidence demonstrates that many cancer-associated cell types within the tumour stroma co-evolve and support tumour growth and development, greatly modifying cancer cell behaviour, facilitating invasion and metastasis and controlling dormancy and sensitivity to drug therapy. Thus, these stromal cells represent potential targets for cancer therapy. Among these cell types, immune cells have emerged as a promising target for therapy. The adaptive and the innate immune system play an important role in normal mammary development and breast cancer. The number of infiltrating adaptive immune system cells with tumour-rejecting capacity, primarily, T lymphocytes, is lower in breast cancer compared with other cancer types, but infiltration occurs in a large proportion of cases. There is strong evidence demonstrating the importance of the immunosuppressive role of the innate immune system during breast cancer progression. A consideration of components of both the innate and the adaptive immune system is essential for the design and development of immunotherapies in breast cancer. In this review, we focus on the importance of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as potential targets for breast cancer therapy.


Author(s):  
Elena Neumann ◽  
Klaus Frommer ◽  
Ulf Müller-Ladner

Adipokines, also called adipocytokines, are highly bioactive substances mainly expressed by adipose tissue. In addition to adipocytes, different cell types resident in various tissues produce adipokines under pathophysiological conditions. Adipokines include a growing number of pluripotent molecules such as adiponectin, resistin, leptin, and visfatin. Since distinct effects of adipokines on inflammation have been described, their influence on the (innate) immune system has been investigated in rheumatology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology. This review gives an overview on the current knowledge about the influence which adipokines have on the immune system and chronic inflammation in rheumatic diseases.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd V. Brennan ◽  
Keri E. Lunsford ◽  
Paul C. Kuo

Studies of the immune mechanisms of allograft rejection have predominantly focused on the adaptive immune system that includes T cells and B cells. Recent investigations into the innate immune system, which recognizes foreign antigens through more evolutionarily primitive pathways, have demonstrated a critical role of the innate immune system in the regulation of the adaptive immune system. Innate immunity has been extensively studied in its role as the host's first-line defense against microbial pathogens; however, it is becoming increasingly recognized for its ability to also recognize host-derived molecules that result from tissue damage. The capacity of endogenous damage signals acting through the innate immune system to lower immune thresholds and promote immune recognition and rejection of transplant grafts is only beginning to be appreciated. An improved understanding of these pathways may reveal novel therapeutic targets to decrease graft alloreactivity and increase graft longevity.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 1694-1710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Anderson ◽  
Gregory Tintinger ◽  
Riana Cockeran ◽  
Moliehi Potjo ◽  
Charles Feldman

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