Introductory Immunology

Jeffrey K. Actor, PhD, holds the title of professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston Texas. Dr. Actor received his PhD from the University of Massachusetts. His research interests include examination of host immune responses during parasitic disease, understanding proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines during infections, vaccine development, and molecular mechanisms of immunomodulation. Over the past 25 years, he has established himself as a productive educator-scientist (tenured, full Professor) with a strong background in immunology and molecular biology, with a broad range of expertise in pathobiology and clinical disease.

“…covers all aspects of the immune system, their roles and interactions in both normal and disease states, and diagnostic tools used in various clinical settings…. The book’s purpose is to give an overview of the immune system, dissect the limbs of the immune system, and then elucidate their role in health and disease states.... It thoroughly explains how the immune system differentiates between self and foreign pathogens,... written for a broad audience including students, physicians in training, clinical practitioners, and laboratory professionals…. As a primer for the various aspects of the immune system, this book has a number of features that make it not only readable, but very concisely instructive.... an excellent primer and review for the field of immunology, particularly for medical and graduate students,... an excellent synopsis of the immune system and is a 'must read' for all students of human disease, the immune system, and infectious diseases,... potentially the best required reading on the subject." ©Doody's Review Service, 2025, Arnold Serota, MD (Private Practice) Doody's Score: 96, 4 Stars!

• Preface Acknowledgments 1. A functional overview of the immune system and componentsChapter focusImmune homeostasis Self versus nonself Innate and adaptive immunity Anatomy of the immune system Cells of the immune system First-line defenders: the myeloid cells Adaptive avengers: the lymphoid cells Lymphocytes Cluster of differentiation Summary 2. The inflammatory response Chapter focus Inflammation Initiation of the inflammatory response The role of antibodies in inflammation Biological functions of complement Activation and directed migration of leukocytes Pathogen recognition and cytokine signaling Feedback and adaptation from a distance Pathological consequences of the inflammatory Response Summary 3. The B lymphocyte: antibodies and how they function Chapter focus B lymphocytes produce antibodies Structural characteristics of immunoglobulins Immunoglobulin nomenclature Biologic properties of antibody isotypes IgD IgM IgG IgA IgE Kinetics of antibody response Membrane-bound immunoglobulin Development of B cells Antibody gene recombination Development and selection of mature B cells Activation and differentiation of B cells Summary 4. T lymphocytes: ringleaders of adaptive immune function Chapter focus T lymphocytes: specific and long-lasting immunity The T cell receptor T-cell development Antigen recognition by T cells: requirement of major histocompatibility molecules The HLA locus MHC class I MHC class II T lymphocyte functions CD4 1 T-helper cells Events involved in T lymphocyte activation Role of T cells in B-cell activation Cytotoxic T-cell effectors CD8 1 T cells Other lymphocyte phenotypes γδ T cells Innate lymphocytes Natural killer T (NKT) cells Superantigens Summary 5. How we defend against infectious agents Chapter focus Immune homeostasis and pathogenic organisms Major immune defense mechanisms against pathogens Physical barriers to infection Anatomic barrier Physiological barrier Phagocytic and endocytic barriers Inflammatory barriers Bacterial infections Microbial motifs detected through pattern-recognition receptors Mycobacterial infections Viral infections Human immunodeficiency virus Parasitic infections (helminths) Fungal infectionsEvasion of immune response Summary 6. Basic disorders of immune function Chapter focus Immunodeficiency disorders Genetic basis for primary immunodeficiency Innate deficiencies Chronic granulomatous disease/myeloperoxidase deficiency Leukocyte adhesion deficiency ChediakComplement disordersInnate pattern-recognition receptor disordersAdaptive immune disordersX-linked agammaglobulinemiaSelective immunoglobulin A deficiencyCommon variable immunodeficiencyHyper immunoglobulin M disordersDiGeorge syndromeWiskottSevere combined immunodeficiencyTreatment of immunodeficiency diseasesImmunodeficiency as a predisposition to diseaseHuman immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndromeSummary7. Autoimmunity: regulation of response to selfChapter focusHomeostasis, immune regulation, and autoimmunityTolerance to selfEtiology of autoimmune diseaseRole of autoantibodies and self-reactive T lymphocytes in autoimmune disordersLaboratory tests for autoimmunityTargeted therapeuticsSummary8. Immune hypersensitivitiesChapter focusHypersensitive disordersType I hypersensitivity: immunoglobulin EType II hypersensitivity: antibody-mediated cytotoxic hypersensitivityType III hypersensitivity: immune complex-mediated hypersensitivityType IV hypersensitivity: delayed-type (cell-mediated) hypersensitivityAlternative hypersensitivity classificationsSummary9. Vaccines and immunotherapyChapter focusPrinciples of vaccinationBasic concepts of protective immunizationTypes of immunizationsAge and timing of immunizationsVaccine types and componentsImmunologic adjuvantsPassive immunizationTherapeutic uses of immunoglobulinsOther ways to modify immunitySummary10. Cancer immunology Chapter focusUnderstanding immune defenses against cancersTumor antigensEffector mechanisms in tumor immunityNatural killer cells and innate response to tumor cellsAdaptive response to tumor cellsEscape mechanisms of tumor eliminationTumors of the immune systemImmunodiagnosis and immunotherapySummary11. Transplantation immunologyChapter focusTransplantation definedTissue histocompatibilityNatural isohemagglutininsHuman leukocyte antigensAllograft rejectionHyperacute rejectionAccelerated rejectionAcute rejectionChronic rejectionGraft-versus-host diseasePretransplantation histocompatibility evaluationImmunosuppressive drugs to prevent allograft rejectionImmunosuppressive therapySummary12. Assessment of immune parameters and immunodiagnosticsChapter focusAntibodyAffinitySecondary manifestations of antibodySolid-phase precipitation assaysRadial immunodiffusionThe Ouchterlony assayImmunoelectrophoresisLatex agglutinationLateral flowWestern blotImmunoassaysEnzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assayDetection of cellular antigensImmunohistochemistryFluorescence-activated cell sorting analysisMultiplex bead arraysAssays to determine immune functionComplement fixation testPhagocyte function assaysLymphocyte function assaysOther tools to measure immunological statusMonoclonal antibodiesMicroarraysSummaryGlossaryIndex