The Quantal Theory of Immunity

The Quantal Theory of Immunity PDF Author: Kendall A. Smith
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814271756
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 249

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Book Description
This book explains how the immune system functions, namely, how individual cells of the immune system make the decision to respond or not to respond to foreign microbes and molecules, and how the critical molecules function to trigger the cellular reactions in an all-or-none (quantal) manner. To date, there has not been a complete description of the immune system and its cells and molecules, primarily because most of the information has accumulated only in the last 40 years and our understanding has been expanding rapidly only in the last 20 years. It is now clear that the cells have evolved a way to ?count? the number of foreign antigenic molecular ?hits?, and they only react when a critical number of events have accumulated. Subsequently, control over the reaction is transferred to a systemic lymphocytotrophic hormone system that determines the tempo, magnitude and duration of the immune reaction. This book explains in detail how the immune system, cells and molecules work for the first time. With this understanding as a basis, the pathogenesis of autoimmunity can now be understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding molecules that participate in a sensitive feedback regulatory control of the immune reaction. By comparison, malignant transformation is understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding the molecules that control the quantal decision to proliferate, so that normal ligand/receptor cell growth control is circumvented. This molecular understanding of the immune system is especially important for the design of successful vaccines, and also explains why vaccines fail.

The Quantal Theory of Immunity

The Quantal Theory of Immunity PDF Author: Kendall A. Smith
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814271756
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 249

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book explains how the immune system functions, namely, how individual cells of the immune system make the decision to respond or not to respond to foreign microbes and molecules, and how the critical molecules function to trigger the cellular reactions in an all-or-none (quantal) manner. To date, there has not been a complete description of the immune system and its cells and molecules, primarily because most of the information has accumulated only in the last 40 years and our understanding has been expanding rapidly only in the last 20 years. It is now clear that the cells have evolved a way to ?count? the number of foreign antigenic molecular ?hits?, and they only react when a critical number of events have accumulated. Subsequently, control over the reaction is transferred to a systemic lymphocytotrophic hormone system that determines the tempo, magnitude and duration of the immune reaction. This book explains in detail how the immune system, cells and molecules work for the first time. With this understanding as a basis, the pathogenesis of autoimmunity can now be understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding molecules that participate in a sensitive feedback regulatory control of the immune reaction. By comparison, malignant transformation is understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding the molecules that control the quantal decision to proliferate, so that normal ligand/receptor cell growth control is circumvented. This molecular understanding of the immune system is especially important for the design of successful vaccines, and also explains why vaccines fail.

Quantal Theory Of Immunity, The: The Molecular Basis Of Autoimmunity And Leukemia

Quantal Theory Of Immunity, The: The Molecular Basis Of Autoimmunity And Leukemia PDF Author: Kendall A Smith
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814468118
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 249

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Book Description
This book explains how the immune system functions, namely, how individual cells of the immune system make the decision to respond or not to respond to foreign microbes and molecules, and how the critical molecules function to trigger the cellular reactions in an all-or-none (quantal) manner. To date, there has not been a complete description of the immune system and its cells and molecules, primarily because most of the information has accumulated only in the last 40 years and our understanding has been expanding rapidly only in the last 20 years. It is now clear that the cells have evolved a way to “count” the number of foreign antigenic molecular “hits”, and they only react when a critical number of events have accumulated. Subsequently, control over the reaction is transferred to a systemic lymphocytotrophic hormone system that determines the tempo, magnitude and duration of the immune reaction.This book explains in detail how the immune system, cells and molecules work for the first time. With this understanding as a basis, the pathogenesis of autoimmunity can now be understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding molecules that participate in a sensitive feedback regulatory control of the immune reaction. By comparison, malignant transformation is understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding the molecules that control the quantal decision to proliferate, so that normal ligand/receptor cell growth control is circumvented./a

The Interleukin Revolution

The Interleukin Revolution PDF Author: Kendall Smith
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781614688105
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The immune system has only been understood by immunologists since 1980, and most of us never had a course in immunology while in school. Trying to grasp the complexities of the dangers of Covid and the rationale of the public health policies has been daunting. This book, a memoir of Smith's first twenty years as a young scientist at Dartmouth Medical School, chronicles the revolution that has occurred in our understanding of how the immune system is regulated. This revolution has been made possible by pioneering experiments that Smith and his team accomplished in the 1970s and '80s, and by many others who have since followed their leads. The keys that unlocked the mysteries of cellular behaviors was the discovery of new molecules that direct and dictate immune responses to microbial infections. It was necessary to coin a new name for these molecules, interleukins, because they had been totally unrecognized. The most important aspect of these new molecules was the startling revelation that they function like classic hormones, and they comprise an immunoendocrine system. Like neurotransmitters in the nervous system, they convey information by interacting with receptors that appear on immune system cells. The excitement and euphoria of discovery of new knowledge in this book are unparalleled.Kendall Smith, a physician scientist for more than fifty years, is Cornell University Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. He graduated from Denison University, and summa cum laude from The Ohio State College of Medicine. He then trained at Yale New Haven Hospital, The National Cancer Institute, and L'Institut de Cancerologie et d'Immunogenetique in Villejuif, France. He has published articles in more than 200 medical and scientific journals, including Nature, Science, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Immunology, and was founding editor of Frontiers in Immunology. He is the editor of Interleukin-2, and author of The Quantal Theory of Immunity: The Molecular Basis of Autoimmunity and Leukemia, and Molecular Immunity: A Chronology of 60 Years of Discovery.

Molecular Immunity: A Chronology Of 60 Years Of Discovery

Molecular Immunity: A Chronology Of 60 Years Of Discovery PDF Author: Kendall A Smith
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9813231726
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 238

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Book Description
'Research on immunity has dramatically expanded in recent six decades, yielding exciting new information concerning the molecules and cells that initiate the multi-faceted processes combined under the term 'Molecular Immunity'. These processes are crucial for protection against invaders, but are also responsible for certain pathogenic conditions. Prof. Kendall Smith, a prominent contributor to this field, provides in this book, for the first time, the detailed history of thoughts and consequent achievements in the field of cellular immunology.'Dr Igal GeryScientist EmeritusNational Eye Institute, NIHThis book covers a scientific history of the discoveries in immunology of the past 60-years, i.e. what was discovered, who made the advances and how they accomplished them, and why others did not.All molecular advances occurred in the last 60 years, and no one has described them.

Three Plays of Maureen Hunter

Three Plays of Maureen Hunter PDF Author: Hunter, Maureen
Publisher: OIBooks-Libros
ISBN: 1896239994
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 944

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Book Description
Book is clean and tight. No writing in text. Like New

Immunoneurology

Immunoneurology PDF Author: Michel Chofflon
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642611915
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 265

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Book Description
A considerable amount of information has been gathered in the field of immunoneurology over recent years. This knowledge about modifications in the pathways of neuroimmune diseases has enabled the development of new therapies. In this volume leading experts present the state of the art in the field, covering all aspects from basic science to the development of better therapies.

Store-Operated Calcium Channels

Store-Operated Calcium Channels PDF Author:
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0124079385
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 307

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Book Description
Store-operated calcium channels are found in most animal cells and regulate many cellular functions including cell division, growth, differentiation, and cell death. This volume provides a concise and informative overview of the principles of store-operated calcium entry and the key developments in the field from researchers who have led these advances. The overall goal of the volume is to provide interested students and investigators with sufficient information to enable a broad understanding of the progress and current excitement in the field. The volume contains a wealth of information that even experienced investigators in the field will find useful. The volume provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms and functions of store-operated calcium channels Contributors are authoritative researchers who have produced important advances in the field The volume is well-illustrated with cartoons and data to facilitate easy comprehension of the subject

Tryptophan Metabolism: Implications for Biological Processes, Health and Disease

Tryptophan Metabolism: Implications for Biological Processes, Health and Disease PDF Author: Atilla Engin
Publisher: Humana Press
ISBN: 3319156306
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 385

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Book Description
This book discusses the relationship between cellular immunity and tryptophan metabolism, as well as its products, serotonin and melatonin, in the development of several diseases and reappraises the common signal transduction pathways of the neurodegenerative diseases, carcinogenesis, immune tolerance, inflammation, hypersensitivity reactions, neuropsychiatric disorders, in addition to bacterial tryptophan biosynthesis and novel antimicrobials. Tryptophan Metabolism: Implications for Biological Processes, Health and Disease presents fundamental information on tryptophan related metabolic pathways and metabolites, implications of these products for specific biological processes, diseases and conditions. This book focuses on effects of tryptophan metabolites on human health and will appeal to researchers, clinicians and students within this field.

Targeting the Broadly Pathogenic Kynurenine Pathway

Targeting the Broadly Pathogenic Kynurenine Pathway PDF Author: Sandeep Mittal
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319118706
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 422

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Book Description
Tryptophan metabolism via kynurenine pathway plays a critical role in both health and a variety of human diseases. This book highlights the known associations between kynurenine pathway and various disease states, as well as examines the current status of drug development and clinical trials of compounds known to alter tryptophan metabolism. The research plays a critical role in molecular targeted therapies directed at altering the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism. The initial and rate-limiting step of tryptophan metabolism is mediated by one of two enzymes, tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO; predominantly in the liver, but also in the brain) and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO; in a host of tissues in response to immune activation). Targeting the enzymes IDO and TDO, as well as other downstream effectors would therefore be likely to generate novel treatment options that would be helpful in a wide variety of clinical settings. This book provides a unique bridge between basic mechanistic understanding of the role of the kynurenine pathway with translational applications and clinical relevance. It will explore the indications that tryptophan metabolism is a potential biomarker of disease activity, can contribute to local and possibly systemic immune suppression in cancer, and is an attractive target for which a variety of inhibitors are readily available.

Calcium Signalling and Disease

Calcium Signalling and Disease PDF Author: Ernesto Carafoli
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402061919
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 591

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Book Description
Authors highlight several promising discoveries in the field of calcium signaling that provide new information about both genetic and acquired pathologies. Their discussions will give you new insights into the underlying causes of congenital and acquired diseases and point the way to new, even more promising research and therapies.