Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetics of the immune system

  • Chapter
Inborn Errors of Immunity and Phagocytosis

  • 74 Accesses

Abstract

Apart from the brain, the immune system is perhaps the most complex ‘organ’ in vertebrates1. In contrast to most other organs, it shares with the brain the ability to react in a specific way to a large variety of ‘unforeseen’ events imposed by an everchanging environment. Although most metabolic pathways are able to adjust their activities within large environmental variations, these adjustments are mainly quantitative and much more simple than the flexibility shown by the reactions of the immune system. Accordingly, the genetic background of this system must be much more complex than those controlling more classic metabolic systems, and our knowledge about this background is still at a very early stage. However, within the last two decades a large amount of information has been accumulated and provided us with some insight into the marvellous immune machinery which allows each individual to react specifically to an almost endless number of different antigenic stimuli.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Edelman, G. M. (1977). Summary: Understanding selective molecular recognition. Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quant. Biol., 49, 891

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Simonsen, M. (1978). General immunobiology — cell types and effector mechanisms (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Pahwa, R., Pahwa, S., O’Reilly, R., Smithwick, Elizabeth M. and Good, R. A. (1978). Immunodeficiency diseases — a review (p. 3 this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Meuwissen, H. J., Parker, K. and Cook, B. (1977). Inborn errors of specific immunity: adenosine deaminase deficiency and purine nucleoside phospherylase deficiencies (p. 89 this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gaily, J. A. and Edelman, G. M. (1977). Somatic translocation of antibody genes. Nature (London), 227, 341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Porter, R. R. (1959). The hydrolysis of rabbit-globulin and antibodies with crystalline papain. Biochem. J., 73, 119

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Natvig, J. B. and Kunkel, H. (1973). Human immunoglobulins: classes, subclasses, genetic variants and idiotypes. Adv. Immunol., 16, 1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kindt, T. J. (1975). Rabbit immunoglobulin allotypes: Structure, immunology and genetics. Adv. Immunol., 21, 35

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hood, L., Campbell, J. H. and Elgin, S. C. R. (1975). The organization, expression, and evolution of antibody genes and other multigene families. Ann. Rev. Genet., 19, 305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Roitt, I. (1974). Essential Immunology, 2nd Ed. (Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wigzell, H. (1973). Antibody diversity: Is it all coded for by the germ line genes? Scand. J. Immunol., 2, 199

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jerne, N. K. (1971). The somatic generation of immune recognition. Eur. J, Immunol., 1, 1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Natvig, J. B., Kunkel, H. G., Yount, W. J. and Nielsen, J. C. (1968). Further studies of the γG-heavy chain genes complexes, with particular reference to the genetic markers Gm(g) and Gm(h). J. Exp. Med., 128, 763

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McDevitt, H. O. and Benacerraf, B. (1969). Genetic control of specific immune responses. Adv. Immunol., 11, 31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Klein, J. (1975). Biology of the Mouse Histocompatibility-2 Complex (New York: Springer)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Shreffler, D. C. and Davis, C. S. (1975). The H-2 major histocompatibility complex and the I immune response region: Genetic variation, function and organization. Adv. Immunol., 20, 125

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Snell, G., Dausset, J. and Nathenson, S. (1976). Histocompatibility, p. 401. (New York: Academic Press)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Svejgaard, A., Hauge, M., Jersild, C., Platz, P., Ryder, L. P., Staub Nielsen, L. and Thomsen, M. (1975). The HLA system — an introductory survey. In L. Beckman and M. Hauge (eds.). Monographs in Human Genetics, 7 (Basel: S. Karger)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Histocompatibility Testing 1977. (Copenhagen: Munksgaard) (Inpress)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Miller, J. F. A. P. and Vadas, M. A. (1977). The major histocompatibility complex: Influence on immune reactivity and T-lymphocyte activation. Scand. J. Immunol., 6, 771

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Doherty, P. C. and Zinkernagel, R. M. (1975). A biological role for the major histocompatibility antigens. Lancet, i, 1406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Shearer, G. M. (1974). Cell-mediated cytotoxicity to trinitrophenyl-modified syngeneic lymphocytes. Eur. J. Immunol., 4, 527

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Zinkernagel, R. M. and Doherty, P. C. (1977). Possible mechanisms of disease susceptibility association with major transplantations antigens. In J. Dausset and A. Svejgaard (eds.). HLA and Disease, pp. 256–68. (Copenhagen: Munksgaard)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Goulmy, E., Termijtelen, A., Bradley, B. A. and Rood, J. J. van (1977). Y-Antigen killing by T cells of women is restricted by HLA. Nature (London), 266, 544

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Dickmeiss, E., Soeberg, B. and Svejgaard, A. (1977). Human cell-mediated cytotoxicity against modified target cell is restricted by HLA. Nature (London), 270, 526

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. McMichael, A. J., Ting, A., Zweerink, H. J. and Askonas, B. A. (1977). HLA restriction of cell mediated lysis of influenza virus infected human cells. Nature (London), 270, 524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Shearer, G. M., Rehn, T. G. and Schmitt-Verhulst, A.-M. (1976). Role of the murine major histocompatibility complex in the specificity of in vivo T-cell-mediated lympholysis against chemically-modified autologous lymphocytes. Transpl. Rev., 29, 222

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bubbers, J.-E., Blank, K. J., Freedman, H. A. and Lilly, F. (1977). Mechanism of the H-2 effect on viral leukemogenesis. Scand. J. Immunol., 6, 533

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Rosenthal, A. S. and Svevach, E. M. (1973). Function of macrophages in antigen recognition by guinea-pig T lymphocytes. I. Requirement for histo- compatible macrophages and lymphocytes. J. Exp. Med., 138, 1194

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Rosenstreich, D. L. and Oppenheim, J. J. (1976) The role of macrophages in the activation of T and B lymphocytes in vitro. In D. S. Nelson (ed.). Immunobiology of the Macrophages (London/New York: Academic Press)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Thomas, D. W., Yamashita, U. and Shevach, E. M. (1977). The role of Ia antigens in T cell activation. Immunol. Rev., 35, 97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Erb, P., Meier, B. and Feldman, M. (1976) Two gene control of T-helper cell induction. Nature (London), 263, 601

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Janeway, C. A., Wigzell, H. and Binz, H. (1976). Two different VH gene products make up the T-cell receptors. Scand. J. Immunol., 5, 993

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Cantor, H. and Boyse, E. A. (1975). Functional subclasses of T lymphocytes bearing different Ly antigens. II Cooperation between subclasses of Ly cells in the generation of killer activity. J. Exp. Med., 141, 1390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Munro, A. J. and Taussig, M. J. (1975). Two genes in the major histocompatibility complex control immune response. Nature (London), 256, 103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Bergholtz, B. O. and Thorsby, E. (1977). Macrophage-dependent response of immune human T lymphocytes to PPD in vitro. Scand. J. Immunol., 6, 779

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Hansen, G. S., Rubin, B., Sørensen, S. F. and Svejgaard, A. (1978). Importance of HLA-D antigens for the cooperation between human monocytes and T lymphocytes, Eur. J. Immunol., 7, 520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Hansen, G. S., Rubin, B. and Sørensen, S. F. (1977). Human leucocyte response in vitro. I. Transformation of purified T lymphocytes with and without addition of partially purified monocytes. Clin. Exp. Immunol., 29 295

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Matzinger, P. and Bevan, M. J. (1977). Why do so many lymphocytes respond to major histocompatibility antigens? Cell. Immunol., 29, 1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Thomson, M., Dickmeiss, E., Jakobsen, B. K., Platz, P., Ryder. L. and Svejgaard, A. (1977). Low responsiveness in MLC induced by certain HLA-A antigens on the stimulator cells. Tissue Antigen., 11, 449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Crone, M., Koch, C. and Simonsen, M. (1972). The elusive T cell receptor. Transpl. Rev., 10, 36

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Jerne, N. K. (1974). Towards a network theory of the immune system. Ann. Immunol. (Institut Pasteur), 125c, 373

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. A. Svejgaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Dickmeiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. S. Hansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Platz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L. P. Ryder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Thomsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. John F. Kennedy Institute, DK-2600, Glostrup, Denmark

    F. Güttler

  2. Department of Chemical Pathology, Institute of Child Health, WC1N 1EH, London

    J. W. T. Seakins

  3. Division of Perinatal Medicine, MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, Middlesex, London

    R. A. Harkness

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1979 The Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Svejgaard, A., Dickmeiss, E., Hansen, G.S., Platz, P., Ryder, L.P., Thomsen, M. (1979). Genetics of the immune system. In: Güttler, F., Seakins, J.W.T., Harkness, R.A. (eds) Inborn Errors of Immunity and Phagocytosis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6197-8_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6197-8_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-6199-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-6197-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation