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Related Experiment Videos

The evolution of adaptive immunity.

Zeev Pancer1, Max D Cooper

  • 1Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, USA. pancer@comb.umbi.umd.edu

Annual Review of Immunology
|March 23, 2006
PubMed
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Adaptive immunity evolved in vertebrates around 500 mya. Jawed vertebrates use V(D)J recombination, while jawless fish use leucine-rich repeat (LRR) units for immune receptor diversity.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary immunology
  • Comparative genomics
  • Vertebrate immunity

Background:

  • Adaptive immunity emerged in vertebrates ~500 mya, with distinct systems in jawed and jawless fish.
  • Leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins are crucial for microbial recognition across kingdoms.
  • Vertebrates possess fewer innate pattern recognition receptors compared to many invertebrates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolutionary origins and mechanisms of adaptive immunity in vertebrates.
  • To compare the immune system architectures of jawed and jawless vertebrates.
  • To understand the selective pressures driving the evolution of lymphocyte-based immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of immune system gene repertoires.
  • Examination of V(D)J recombination in jawed vertebrates.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) unit assembly in jawless fish.

    • Main Results:

    • Jawed vertebrates utilize immunoglobulin V, D, and J gene rearrangement for B and T cell receptor diversity.
    • Jawless fish generate variable lymphocyte receptors via recombinatorial usage of LRR modules.
    • Vertebrates appear to have fewer innate recognition receptors than many invertebrates.

    Conclusions:

    • The evolution of lymphocyte-based adaptive immunity in vertebrates may be linked to developmental plasticity and expanded antigen recognition.
    • Distinct evolutionary paths for adaptive immunity exist between jawed and jawless vertebrates.
    • The shift towards adaptive immunity might reflect a trade-off in receptor diversity and innate immune complexity.