Immune Response and Tolerance — Immunology

Immunology · Basic Sciences

How it begins

The immune system is the integrated network of cells, tissues and molecules that defends the body against infectious agents, tumor cells and other threats, while simultaneously maintaining tolerance towards the tissues themselves. Its fundamental mission is to distinguish between the self (self) and the foreign (non-self), responding to the latter with precision and proportionality.

What it covers

1. Immune Response and Tolerance
2. The Immune System — Overview
3. · The Two Arms of the Immune System
4. · Fundamental Properties of the Adaptive Immune Response
5. Immune System Cells
6. Lymphoid Organs
7. · Lymphatic Node Architecture
8. Innate Immunity
9. · Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR)
10. · The Inflammasome — IL-1β Processing Machine
11. · Complement System
12. · NK Cells — Natural Killers
13. Antigens and Antigenic Presentation
14. · Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) / HLA
15. · Dendritic Cells — The Innate-Adaptive Bridge
16. T lymphocytes
17. · T Lymphocyte Maturation in the Thymus
18. · CD4⁺ T Helper lymphocytes
19. · CD8⁺ Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)
20. · Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg)
21. B Lymphocytes and Antibodies
22. · Immunoglobulins — Structure and Function
23. · The T-Dependent Response and the Germinal Center
24. Cytokines and Immune Signaling
25. · JAK/STAT Pathway — Cytokine Signaling
26. Immunological Tolerance
27. · Central Tolerance
28. · Peripheral Tolerance
29. · Immune Checkpoints — Self Tolerance in the Tumor Context
30. Hypersensitivity
31. Autoimmunity — When Tolerance Fails
32. · Predisposing Factors
33. · Autoimmune Diseases — Classification and Mechanisms
34. Immunodeficiencies
35. · Primary Immunodeficiencies (PID) — By Affected Component
36. · Secondary Immunodeficiency — HIV/AIDS
37. Antitumor Immunity
38. · The Immunoediting Model — The 3 Es
39. · Immunotherapy — Tools to Restore Antitumor Immunity
40. Integration and Final Perspective
41. · The Great Immunological Connections
42. · Final Summary
43. · Bibliographical References