Since programmed cell death was first described in insects in 1964 and apoptosis was described in 1972, rapid progress has been made in understanding the basic mechanisms and genes regulating programmed cell death and apoptosis. In addition, defects in various genes regulating programmed cell death have been delineated in several experimental models of human diseases. This volume surveys various aspects of these rapidly developing areas of research in programmed cell death/apoptosis. This volume should be of interest to basic immunologists and molecular biologists. The volume begins with a historical perspective of cell death. The remainder of the volume is divided into four different parts. Part I deals with the signaling pathways in apoptosis, including cell cycle control of apoptosis, role of ceramide in apoptosis, role of antibody signaling, and biochemical regulation of apoptosis. The mechanisms for recognition of apoptotic lymphocytes by macrophages are also reviewed. Part II examines the role of various genes that regulate apoptosis, including the role ofFas, FasL, and other TNF family members in apoptosis and homeostatic regulation of immune response. Recently described splice variants and their influence on apoptosis are also reviewed, and the role of the members of the Bcl-2 family in apoptosis is discussed in detail. Part III reviews various aspects of apoptosis in B lymphocytes, including mechanisms that regulate apoptosis/survival of B lymphocytes and the regulation of Fas-mediated apoptosis in B lymphocytes.

The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.

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.

In recent years, major developments have increased understanding of various genetic and epigenetic regulatory processes that are critical for the generation of B cell repertoires. These include the role of chromatin regulation and nuclear organization in understating the IgH gene regulation. These proceedings highlight recent developments in lymphocyte development, Ig gene rearrangements and somatic hypermutation, chromatin structure modification, B lymphocyte signaling and fate, receptor editing, and autoimmunity.

During the past 5 years rapid progress has been made in the understanding of biochemical pathways for signal transduction in lymphocyte activation. Gene cloning technology has been instrumental in defining and making available in pure form of a number of growth and differentiation factors, in the characterization of their receptors, and in the delineation of genes for the T cell receptor. This book is divided into 6 sections. Section 1 deals with the molecular structure of the T cell receptor. Section 2 discusses the role of the T cell receptor, membrane ion channels and biochemical pathways of signal transduction in T cell activation. The molecular structures and biological and immunological effects of interleukin 1, interleukin 2 and interleukin 3 are presented in Section 3. This section also details the structure of interleukin 2 receptor and its use as a target for therapy for certain leukemias. Section 4 includes the biochemical events which occur following the delivery of the signal for B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation by antigen, growth/differentiation factors. The molecular structure of B cell stimulating factors is also discussed. The role of oncogene expression in cellular activation and differentiation is included in Section 5. The cellular and molecular basis of natural killing and the molecular basis of cyc1osporin A-mediated immunosuppression are discussed in detail in Section 6. We hope this book will serve as a reference work on basic mechanisms of lymphocyte activation, proliferation, and differentiation for immunologists and molecular biologists.

In recent years rapid progress has been made in the areas of T cell and B cell biology, cell-cell and cell-matrix/stroma interactions. The use of isolated subunits of the T cell receptor invariant chains has been instrumental in defining their role in signal transduction and tyrosine phosphorylation. A role of src family phosphotyrosine kinases in T cell activation has been demonstrated and several phosphotyrosine kinase substrates have been identified and their functions characterized. Homologous recombinant techniques have led to the development of murine strains that lack CD4 or CD8 expression. These models are likely to be instrumental in studying the role of T cell subsets in autoimmune disorders, tissue transplant rejection and tumor rejection. A role of major histocompatibility complex I in the development of T cell subsets and NK cells has been defined. Recent data suggest a role of interaction between plasma membrane molecules of activated T helper cells and B cells, B cells primed with plasma membrane of activated T helper cells and cytokines, and interaction between bone marrow stromal cells and B cell progenitors and precursors, in the B cell development, proliferation, and differentiation. The structure and functions of adhesion molecules, especially with regard to signal transduction and homing events, are better defined.