This book covers lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies. Acquired immunodeficiencies are caused by infections with the human immunodeficiency virus or arise following immunosuppressive therapy administered after organ transplantation or to treat connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. It was recently discovered that various diseases or therapeutic modalities that induce a state of immunosuppression may cause virally driven lymphoproliferations. This book summarizes for the first time this group of immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferations.

The discoveries of Burkitt, Epstein, and Henle have laid the foundation for continuing generation of information regarding the mechanisms of induction of diseases by Epstein-Barr virus. The discovery of the virus two decades ago resulted from clinical and basic science collaborative studies on Burkitt lymphoma. Subse quently, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and infectious mononucleosis have been linked etiologically with the virus. During the first decade of research following the discovery of the virus, the mechanisms for the induction of BL, NPC, and IM were sought. At that time one prevailing view was that individual oncogenic strains of EBV were responsible for the different disorders. Paralleling the development of immunology in the 1970's was the accrual of knowledge about immunological events occurring during IM. These studies suggest that immune defense mechanisms deter mine the outcome of this viral infection rather than different viral strains. During the early 1970's, Starzl and Penn and Gatti and Good had noted an increased frequency of malignancy in renal allograft recipients and children with primary immune deficiency disorders, respectively. These observations provoked investigators to restudy the role of immune surveillance against malignancy. At that time immune surveillance was thought to occur against tumor-specific antigens; thereby neoplasms were eliminated.

This volume of the series Rare Diseases of the Immune System presents detailed state of the art knowledge on the cellular primary immunodeficiencies; it includes extensive coverage of both basic science discoveries and the latest clinical advances in the field. The book is structured in accordance with the most recent classification of PIDs and also covers updates on the T cell immunological synapse. Readers will find comprehensive, in-depth descriptions of novel cellular PID genes and related clinical applications, mucosal T cells, and the various clinical phenotypes of cellular PIDs. Cellular Primary Immunodeficiencies will be of high value for immunologists, pediatricians, rheumatologists, oncologists, internists, and infectious disease specialists and will also be informative for MD, Master and PhD students.

Immunological Surveillance

Immune Surveillance deals with the issues regarding tumor immunology and surveillance, in which the central theme is all about the life span of the mammalian host that is depleted by the environment with mutagenic agents and solutions. The book is divided into six chapters. It includes discussions on the organization and modulation of cell membrane receptors, as well as the origin and expression of membrane antigens. It also covers the topics on the triggering mechanisms for and effector mechanisms activated by the cellular recognition. These topics analyze and evaluate alternatives for the recognition and destruction mechanisms in the knowledge of cell cooperation and requirements for immune recognition. A chapter provides discourse on a solution for the paradox of thriving tumors based on the demonstrable in vitro host immunity. Another discusses the generation of antibody diversity and the theory of self-tolerance. The last chapter explains the evaluation of the evidence for immune surveillance. This reference will be invaluable to those who specialize in immunology.

Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders: A Historic and Scientific Perspective provides a complete historical context that is crucial for students and researchers concerned with primary immunodeficiency. When researchers have a poor understanding of the way we arrived where we are in research, they can miss important points about a disease, or miss out on how to approach new diseases. This historical knowledge of research can assist greatly by showing how it was done in the past, demonstrating the successes and failures, so that it can be done better in the future. This book provides an understanding of the process going from clinical problem to lab and back to the clinic, based on historical experiences. Its chapters proceed from the discovery of the T and B cell lineages through the first BMT for immunodeficiency disorder; lab investigation and gene therapy for PID; the discovery of the gene for AT and its function; understanding cytokine defects; and many other stops along the way. - Facilitates communication among physicians and other investigators concerned with immunological and inflammatory diseases - Summarizes for the first time all the known facts from 60 years of primary immunodeficiency research, and teaches how an important field in medicine was established - Provides stimulating discussions on developing new medical therapiesHighlights the importance of studying humans to understand mechanisms of disease that affect humans