Re-recognition of innate immune memory as an integrated multidimensional concept

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Innate Immunity
• Comparative Immunology

Background:

• Immunological memory was traditionally confined to vertebrate adaptive immunity.
• Recent research has identified innate immune memory (trained immunity) in diverse organisms.
• This phenomenon holds potential for clinical and agricultural applications but faces conceptual challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current studies on innate immune memory across different species.
• To summarize the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms.
• To propose a unified, multidimensional concept of innate immune memory.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on innate immune memory.
• Analysis of mechanisms reported in invertebrates and vertebrates.
• Conceptual synthesis of existing data.

Main Results:

• Innate immune memory is observed in both invertebrates and vertebrates.
• Diverse mechanisms contribute to this phenomenon, including epigenetic and metabolic changes.
• Controversies exist regarding the definition and scope of innate immune memory.

Conclusions:

• Innate immune memory is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon.
• A unified concept integrating various observations is proposed.
• Further research is needed to resolve controversies and explore applications.