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Related Concept Videos

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens01:29

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Introduction to Innate and Adaptive Immunity01:21

Introduction to Innate and Adaptive Immunity

The human immune system is a complex defense mechanism that protects the body from harmful pathogens and foreign substances. It comprises two crucial components: innate and adaptive immunity.
Innate immunity is the body's natural, nonspecific defense system that acts quickly to protect against pathogens. It incorporates physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes and cellular elements such as phagocytes and natural killer cells. This part of our immune system provides an immediate,...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.

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Accessing Early Differentiation of Virus-Specific Follicular Helper CD4+ T Cell in Acute LCMV-Infected Mice
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VLR-based adaptive immunity.

Thomas Boehm1, Nathanael McCurley, Yoichi Sutoh

  • 1Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany. boehm@immunbio.mpg.de

Annual Review of Immunology
|January 10, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Primitive jawless vertebrates like lampreys possess unique adaptive immunity. Their lymphocytes use variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) for specific immune responses, offering insights into immunity

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Zoology

Background:

  • Jawless vertebrates (agnathans) like lampreys exhibit specific immune responses.
  • Lampreys possess lymphocytes analogous to T and B cells, expressing variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs).
  • VLRs are somatically diversified antigen receptors composed of leucine-rich repeats.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the nature and diversification of antigen receptors in lampreys.
  • To understand the cellular basis and origins of adaptive immunity in early vertebrates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of lymphocyte populations and their antigen receptors (VLRs).
  • Investigation of VLR diversification mechanisms, including gene conversion and cytosine deaminases.
  • Examination of VLR expression patterns on different lymphocyte lineages (VLRA, VLRB, VLRC).

Main Results:

  • Lamprey lymphocytes clonally express somatically diversified VLRs.
  • VLR diversification appears to involve gene conversion mediated by lineage-specific cytosine deaminases.
  • VLRA is found on T-like cells, VLRB on B-like cells, and VLRC on a distinct lineage.
  • VLRA-expressing cells develop in thymus-like tissue, while VLRB cells develop in hematopoietic tissues.

Conclusions:

  • The discovery of VLRs in agnathans provides crucial insights into the evolutionary origins of adaptive immunity.
  • Lamprey immune systems demonstrate a unique but functional parallel to adaptive immunity in jawed vertebrates.
  • Understanding VLRs illuminates the early evolution of antigen receptor diversification and lymphocyte development.