Immune Regulation And Immunotherapy In Autoimmune Disease

This volume reviews the most recent advances in the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms for immune responses and immune regulation. The books editor, Dr. Zhang, is well-known internationally, particularly in the field of multiple sclerosis and T-cell vaccination as a potential treatment of multiple sclerosis. He has much experience and expertise in both basic and clinical aspects of autoimmune disease.

Innate and adaptive immunity play important roles in immunosurveillance and tumor destruction. However, increasing evidence suggests that tumor-infiltrating immune cells may have a dual function: inhibiting or promoting tumor growth and progression. Although regulatory T (Treg) cells induce immune tolerance by suppressing host immune responses against self- or non self-antigens, thus playing critical roles in preventing autoimmune diseases, they might inhibit antitumor immunity and promote tumor growth. Recent studies demonstrate that elevated proportions of Treg cells are present in various types of cancers and suppress antitumor immunity. Furthermore, tumor-specific Treg cells can inhibit immune responses only when they are exposed to antigens presented by tumor cells. Therefore, Treg cells at tumor sites have detrimental effects on immunotherapy directed to cancer.

This volume reviews the current state of research on immune checkpoints and offers novel concepts. It discusses the two most important immune checkpoints: T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). It shows that antagonistic antibodies against these two molecules are highly effective in the treatment of various cancers and that PD-1 and CTLA-4 have been linked to the suppression of T-cell receptor signaling and co-stimulatory molecules. Further, the volume examines other agents, a number of cells, receptors and signaling molecules, that are also involved in the regulation of T-cell activation and extends the concept of immune checkpoints to “molecules and cells that negatively regulate T-cell activation”. Playing essential roles in immune homeostasis, they could offer new targets for cancer immunotherapy, and for the therapy of autoimmune diseases. Written by internationally respected scientists, this book will appeal to basic scientists, clinicians, drug development researchers, and advanced students alike.

Advances in biochemistry, cell biology, genome-wide mutagenesis - coupled with molecular technology, including gene microarray and transgenic and knock-out animals - have been instrumental in understanding the cellular processes and molecular pathways of self-tolerance and autoimmune diseases. The molecular definition of these pathways and processes has led to novel treatments for certain auto-immune diseases that are based on the pathogenesis of diseases rather than on broad-spectrum immunosuppression. This book reviews many of these current developments and proposes future novel approaches for understanding the pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases and designing novel therapy. This book covers three major areas of auto-immunity: the basic mechanisms of immunological tolerance, pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases, and some novel therapies. This book should be useful for immunologists, molecular biologists, rheumatologists, and clinical scientists.

This book equips young immunologists and health professionals with a clear understanding of the fundamental concepts and roles of co-signal molecules and in addition presents the latest information on co-stimulation. The first part of the book is devoted to co-signal molecules and the regulation of T cells. Following an initial overview, subsequent chapters examine each co-signal molecule in turn and discuss the mechanisms by which co-signal molecules regulate the different types of T cell. The second part covers various clinical applications, including in autoimmune disease, neurological disorders, transplantation, graft-versus-host disease, and cancer immunotherapy. To date, co-stimulation blockade and co-inhibition blockade have shown beneficial effects and many additional clinical trials targeting co-signal molecules are ongoing. The mechanisms underlying these successful treatments are explained and the future therapeutic potential in the aforementioned diseases is evaluated. Co-signal Molecules in T Cell Activation will be a valuable reference guide to co-stimulation for basic and clinical researchers in the fields of both immunology and pharmaceutical science.

T-cell Activation in Health and Disease is a collection of papers presented at the "T-cell Activation in Health and Disease—Disorders of Immune Regulation—Infection and Autoimmunity" workshop held in Oxford on September 25-29, 1988. This book discusses the progress occurring in T-cell immunity research. One paper discusses the effects of two interaction clones of T-cells that can define the T-cell immunoregulatory network. Another paper discusses the relationship between connectivity and tolerance of the immune network. This paper then suggests the possibility that autoimmunity arises because self-reactive clones are inadequately connected to the network. Another paper reviews the cell-mediated responses in the synovial fluids, as well as the interaction of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid dendritic cells and T lymphocytes. The book also examines why attempts for protective immunity to the HIV virus have not been successful. One article then discusses the goals of immunologic intervention in autoimmune disease by using an approach involving the cellular and cytokine targets and their deployment. This text can prove significant for scientists in the field of pharmacology, cellular biology, and researchers in the field of immunology and infectious diseases.

The Autoimmune Diseases, Sixth Edition, emphasizes the "3 P’s" of 21st Century medicine: precision, prediction and prevention. Topics cover the modern systems approach to biology that involves large amounts of personalized, ongoing physiologic data ("omics") coupled with advanced methods of analysis, new tests of genetic engineering, such as CRISPR, auto inflammatory diseases, autoimmune responses to tumor immunotherapy, and information on normal immune response and disorders. Each of the major autoimmune disorders is discussed by researchers and clinical investigators experienced in dealing with patients. Chapters emphasize the immunologic basis of the disease as well as the use of immunologic diagnostic methods and treatments. The book also covers several cross-cutting issues related to the recognition and treatment of autoimmune diseases, including chapters on the measurement of autoantibodies and T cells, the use of biomarkers as early predictors of disease, and new methods of treatment. Gives a thorough and important overview on the entire field, framing individual disease chapters with information that compares and contrasts each disorder and its therapy Provides thorough, up-to-date information on specific diseases, along with clinical applications in an easily found reference for clinicians and researchers interested in certain diseases Keeps readers abreast of current trends and emerging areas in the field Ensures that content is not only up-to-date, but applicable and relevant Includes new, updated chapters that emphasize hot topics in the field, e.g., research on auto inflammatory diseases and autoimmune responses following cancer immunotherapy