Molecular components of the immune system

Molecular components of the immune system 1.3.1 Properties of antibodies... 

In a comprehensive chapter on Immunodeficiencies, the application of these experimental systems to human diseases has been evaluated. An attempt is made to relate the various identified immunodeficiency syndromes to basic defects in the various cellular or molecular components of the immune system. In this context the genetic defects of the complement system are also discussed which are appropriately considered immunodeficiency diseases. 

In the second type of interaction, the components of the immune system are active participants in that the xenobiotic or some fraction of a xenobiotic is recognized as nonself and therefore provides the driving force for the response. Drugs and chemicals which are capable of triggering an immune response are generally low-molecular-weight substances possessing some inherent reactivity. For the most part, the xenobiotic... 

Antibodies are immune system-related proteins called immunoglobulins. An important component of the immune system, antibodies are found in the blood of all vertebrates. The synthesis, or manufacture, of antibodies is initiated when a foreign substance, referred to as an antigen, enters the body. Lymphocyte cells respond to the foreign substance by making an antibody with a molecular arrangement that fits the shape of molecules on the siuface of the substance so that the antibody combines with it. Common antigens are the protein components of bacteria and viruses. 

Although many of the components and molecules that are involved in the bivalve immune response were identified long ago, the recent use of molecular techniques, such as cDNA libraries and high-throughput sequencing, has allowed researchers to confirm the presence of molecules that were identified indirectly by their biological activity. Here, we describe the main components of the immune system... 

Endotoxin a molecular component of certain bacteria that is recognized by certain cells of the immune system (most especially macrophages) and triggers the activation of many immune functions, including synthesis of -NO also called lipopolysaccharide... 

Interleukins a subset of the cytokines, denoted by the designation IL-1, IL-2, and so on, and each has specific functions in regulating the immune reaction Lymphotoxin a cytokine, similar to tumor necrosis factor Lipopolysaccharide a molecular component of certain bacteria, that is recognized by certain cells of the immune system (most especially macrophages) and triggers the activation of many immune functions, including synthesis of -NO also called endotoxin... 

The diverse class of polypeptides allows for the realization of, on the one hand, high-performance construction materials, such as dragline spider silk, microtubules, or collagen fibers. On the other hand, (multi)functional molecules or molecular assemblies can be found, for example, necessary for biocatalysis (enzymes) or for the function of the immune system (immune globulins). Moreover, proteins participate in the storage and the directed transport of materials in biological systems and are essential components for the communication in complex biosystems in form of, for example, cell-surface markers, receptors, regulators, or hormones. 

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