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How the immune system protects the host from infection
1Section of Immunobiology, LH 416, PO Box 208011, Yale University School of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New Haven, CT 06520-8011, USA. charles.janeway@yale.edu
Abstract:
The immune system is made up of sets of interacting cells. The first to respond in all cases are the antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which are equipped with receptors for microbial patterns. Engagement of these receptors induces co-stimulatory molecules on the surface of the APCs, and allows it to stimulate potent CD4 T-cell responses, and also CD8 T-cell responses. This in turn leads to B-cell-derived antibody responses. The entire response is controlled by suppressor T cells, as predicted many years ago by Richard Gershon.
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