Immunology's Coming of Age

Abstract

This treatise describes the development of immunology as a scientific discipline with a focus on its foundation. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the study of immunology was founded with the discoveries of phagocytosis by Elias Metchnikoff, as well as by Emil Behring's and Paul Ehrlich's discovery of neutralizing antibodies. These seminal studies were followed by the discoveries of bacteriolysis by complement and of opsonization by antibodies, which provided first evidence for cooperation between acquired and innate immunity. In the years that followed, light was shed on the pathogenic corollary of the immune response, describing different types of hypersensitivity. Subsequently, immunochemistry dominated the field, leading to the revelation of the chemical structure of antibodies in the 1960s. Immunobiology was preceded by transplantation biology, which laid the ground for the genetic basis of acquired immunity. With the identification of antibody producers as B lymphocytes and the discovery of T lymphocytes as regulators of acquired immunity, lymphocytes moved into the center of immunologic research. T cells were shown to be genetically restricted and to regulate different leukocyte populations, including B cells and professional phagocytes. The discovery of dendritic cells as major antigen-presenting cells and their surface expression of pattern recognition receptors revealed the mechanisms by which innate immunity instructs acquired immunity. Genetic analysis provided in-depth insights into the generation of antibody diversity by recombination, which in principle was shown to underlie diversity of the T cell receptor, as well. The invention of monoclonal antibodies not only provided ultimate proof for the unique antigen specificity of the antibody-producing plasma cell, it also paved the way for a new era of immunotherapy. Emil Behring demonstrated cure of infectious disease by serum therapy, illustrating how clinical studies can stimulate basic research. The recent discovery of checkpoint control for cancer therapy illustrates how clinical application benefits from insights into basic mechanisms. Last not least, perspectives on immunology progressed from a dichotomy between cellular-unspecific innate immunity and humoral-specific acquired immunity, toward the concept of complementary binarity.

Glycosylation-dependent opsonophagocytic activity of staphylococcal protein A antibodies

“…The discovery that serum from infected animals contains antibacterial activity was readily exploited in the early 20th century, principally against diphtheria toxin (35). Broader-spectrum drugs and antibiotics soon eclipsed serum therapy.…”

Modulating the T Lymphocyte Immune Response via Secretome Produced miRNA: From Tolerance Induction to the Enhancement of the Anticancer Response

“…Mark D. Scott 1,2,3 *, Duncheng Wang 4 , Wendy M. Toyofuku 1,2 and Xining Yang 1,2,3 1 Centre for Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada…”

“…Indeed, the T cell response plays a (the) central role in autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, graft versus host disease (GVHD), graft versus leukemia (GVL), cancer and, more recently, cancer therapy. Hence, consequent to the central role of T cells as a key cellular component in the development of autoimmune diseases, graft tolerance or rejection, and the anticancer response, the T cell response has been a major focus in the development of clinical therapies ( Figure 1A) [1].…”

Pan-cancer characterization of immune-related lncRNAs identifies potential oncogenic biomarkers

“…In addition, increasing studies have reported that the tumor microenvironment plays important roles in cancer development and progression. Dysregulation of the immune system can be a major cause of the development of cancer and immunotherapy has emerged as a promising cancer treatment strategy 7 . Thus, precise regulation of the expression of immune genes is critical for generating a robust immunity.…”