[Gene technology in immunologic research, diagnosis and treatment]

T- and B-lymphocytes recognize foreign material (antigens) by means of specific receptors. After the antigen-specific recognition, lymphocytes and other cells communicate both through membrane-bound and soluble signal molecules. Gene technology has enabled mapping and sequencing of several genes which encode receptor or signal molecules. Gene sequencing has provided essential new information on the structure of receptor and signal molecules, and has thus formed the basis for our rapidly growing knowledge of the physiology and pathophysiology of the immune system. Molecular genetics has also produced techniques which are already being used in the diagnosis of immunologic diseases, and which can possibly be used therapeutically in gene transplantation of various immune defects.