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Related Experiment Videos

Primitive immune systems: are your ways my ways?

Baruch Rinkevich1

  • 1Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, Haifa, Israel. buki@ocean.org.il

Immunological Reviews
|June 18, 2004
PubMed
Summary

The immune system may have evolved to detect and remove aberrant cells, not primarily for fighting pathogens. This paradigm shift is supported by studying allorecognition in tunicates, suggesting a later adaptation for defense against external threats.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary immunology
  • Comparative immunology
  • Cellular and molecular immunology

Background:

  • Vertebrate immune systems are traditionally viewed as pathogen defense mechanisms.
  • However, phenomena like autoimmunity and malignancy suggest alternative evolutionary origins.
  • The colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri offers a model for studying primitive immune functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a new paradigm for the evolution of immunity.
  • To investigate the role of allorecognition in primitive immune systems.
  • To understand the evolutionary basis of detecting and purging selfish or transformed cells.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of vertebrate and invertebrate immune systems.
  • Examination of allorecognition events in Botryllus schlosseri, including fusion, rejection, and resorption.

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  • Review of recent research on Botryllus immunity and somatic variants.

    • Main Results:

    • Allorecognition in Botryllus suggests immunity evolved for surveillance against internal cellular threats.
    • Pathogen defense appears to be a later evolutionary addition.
    • Botryllus immunity highlights the costs associated with somatic variants and allogeneic cells.

    Conclusions:

    • Immunity's primary role may be the surveillance and purging of aberrant self-cells.
    • Pathogen defense is a secondary, albeit crucial, function.
    • Studying primitive systems like Botryllus provides insights into the fundamental evolutionary trajectory of immunity.