The cells of innate specific immunity recognise the "pathogen associated molecular patterns", molecules highly preserved throughout evolution. Each lymphocyte B, differentiated as plasma cell, produces antibodies that recognise one single epitope. Which are the hypotheses that explain how exactly this specificity got memorised (during the evolution of species) within the genetic code?
Is this process any similar to what happens when each new organism that is forming assumes a self slightly different from that of the parents (perhaps keeping in the phylogenetic "family album" this data (quite a memory load...) together with a mechanism of fighting the less imparented), is it a matter of natural selection of the organisms that were capable of producing pathogen binding/inactivating molecules?
After all, evolution had a lot of time to work on myriad of small variables and to slowly refine a very complex system.
Dear Blake,
Based on your question, I see that you are interested in theory. I would recommend this paper titled, Ecoimmunity: immune tolerance by symmetric co-evolution. Written by Uri Nevoa and Ehud Haubenb at the NIH. The manuscript largely is focused on intraorganismal observations. Using the general underpinnings of evolutionary development.
It presents one framework to consider in your approach to developing an understanding of the evolution of adaptive immunity in the context of existing theories in ecology.
Considering the role of antigen specific T cells in an organism, as one would a multi-species ecosystem, is interesting to say the least. Particularly when you start with the assumption that tolerance to self antigens is a prerequisite for the evolution of adaptive immunity. And tolerance would be necessarily required in the first successful "founder" of the adaptive immune trait. Their presentation of ecoimmunity offers a more realistic perspective, tolerance is treated as an active coevolutionary response of tissues to "predation" by T cells. A feature that is well understood in tumor immunology. I'll let you see yourself how ecoimmunity fits with your study of immunological theory.
I have a feeling however, that speculation on the evolution of the adaptive immune system will gain some new evidence with the more widespread use of TCR sequencing in additional species. We will see...
Best wishes,
Jahan
Fascinating question, Blake. Although I understand antigen specificity, I've not had to deal with the theories underlying it. Perhaps by participating in this question I will learn from the experience.
Dear Blake,
Based on your question, I see that you are interested in theory. I would recommend this paper titled, Ecoimmunity: immune tolerance by symmetric co-evolution. Written by Uri Nevoa and Ehud Haubenb at the NIH. The manuscript largely is focused on intraorganismal observations. Using the general underpinnings of evolutionary development.
It presents one framework to consider in your approach to developing an understanding of the evolution of adaptive immunity in the context of existing theories in ecology.
Considering the role of antigen specific T cells in an organism, as one would a multi-species ecosystem, is interesting to say the least. Particularly when you start with the assumption that tolerance to self antigens is a prerequisite for the evolution of adaptive immunity. And tolerance would be necessarily required in the first successful "founder" of the adaptive immune trait. Their presentation of ecoimmunity offers a more realistic perspective, tolerance is treated as an active coevolutionary response of tissues to "predation" by T cells. A feature that is well understood in tumor immunology. I'll let you see yourself how ecoimmunity fits with your study of immunological theory.
I have a feeling however, that speculation on the evolution of the adaptive immune system will gain some new evidence with the more widespread use of TCR sequencing in additional species. We will see...
Best wishes,
Jahan
Thank you, Jahan, for your kind answer and the article, most interesting.
very reasonable speculation indeed. Pl think in-terms of proving or dis proving. lalitha kabilan
Immunology is one of the most interesting fields in medicine, but also basic science. There are a lot of text books out there for beginning and advanced scientists - going deeper into the science as the high-school knowledge on B- and T-cells. You may want to look into what "innate" and "adaptive" really means, including other aspects of "innate" (TOLL receptor) in insects (work by late Charly Janeway, who I once met at a long dinner). Concerning evolution and immunology, there also is some work which overlooks 500 mio. years of evolution of the immune system... but this may be far away from your question. Sorry, that I really have to recommend here any current textbook for medical students or PhD students in an immunology program.
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