Tarik Möröy

Differentiation of B-cells

B-cell develop their B-cell receptor (BCR) via transient formation of surrogate L-chain/p55 complexes.

Immune Complex Mediated Diseases

Antigen-antibody immune complexes play an essential role in the immune response by: Binding to and neutralization of antigen and infectious organisms Activation of the complement system Activation of the Hageman factor and thereby activation of the clotting system, fibrinolytic system and kallikrein system Activation of granulocytes, macrophages, killer cells Activation and aggregation of platelets Antigen-specific inhibition of lymphocytes (via the BCR)

Genetic Background of Apoptosis and Malignant Lymphocyte Growth

The term apoptosis was proposed for a “mechanism of controlled cell deletion, which appears to play a complementary but opposite role to mitosis in the regulation of animal cell populations” (Kerr et al. 1972). Both apoptosis and cell proliferation are controlled by a network of genes. Result of this control is the balance between the rate of cell division and the rate of cell death. Uncontrolled growth observed in malignant tumors may be caused by cell populations increasing their rate of proliferation, decreasing their rate of cell death or both (Barr et al. 1994). Apoptosis plays a central role in the normal immune system. It occurs during lymphocyte and T-cell development as well as at later stages, after the interaction of lymphocytes with target antigens. Aberrant apoptosis induced by an imbalance in the activation of genes or by infectious organisms may be an essential cause either for malignant lymphocyte growth, for immune suppression or for autoimmune diseases. Uncontrolled apoptosis in population of nonproliferating, long-lived terminally differentiated cell types may be the pathophysiological pathway of many neurodegenerative and heart diseases.

Systemic Inflammatory Reaction Syndrome

The systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome (SIRS) is a multifactorial systemic disease. The initial local diseases causing SIRS might be: Trauma, haemorrhage, burns (Redl 1992, Faist 1992) Infections (gramnegative or grampositive bacteria) alone or in consequence of trauma, haemorrhage, burns (Bone 1992) Pancreatitis (Bone 1992)

Involvement of the Clotting System and Platelets

The clotting system and platelets are involved in the immune reaction via various mechanisms: Direct activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic pathway Activation of monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, lymphocytes and release of mediators and cytokines Activation of the complement system Activation of endothelial cells Activation of platelets

Somatic Gene Therapy

Somatic gene therapy involves treatment of somatic cells of a patient with recombinant nucleic acids to modulate expression of defined endogenous genes or to introduce and express certain exogenous genes. Treatment of somatic cells can be performed in vitro (with subsequent injection of such treated cells into the patient) or in vivo.

Generation of the IgA response

Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) protects mucosal epithelial cells by: Inhibition of adhesion, colonization and function of bacteria (Dhar et al. 1985; Abraham et al. 1985) Prevention of attachment and internalization of viruses (Taylor et al. 1985) Reduction of potential infestation of parasites (Kaplan et al. 1985) Neutralization of toxins and suppression of toxin induced damage (Tamaru et al. 1985)

CNS and Immune Reactions

Interaction between the immune system and the CNS: Immune cells produce neuropeptides and neuronal hormones (CNS-mediators). Cells of the CNS produce immunomediators. Immune cells can be modulated by CNS mediators and hormones, the CNS by immune mediators. The consequence is a close communication between the immune system and the CNS. In consequence, the immune system can respond to cognitive stimuli (physical, emotional, chemical) and the CNS to noncognitive stimuli (infections, vaccination, tumor, others).

Fc-receptor and Antibody Interaction

Fc-receptors are defined structures in the cell membrane which bind to the Fc (crystalline fragment) part of IgG, IgE, IgA, IgM or IgD.

Cytokines, Growth Factors and Their Receptors

Cytokines are growth factors which regulate proliferation, differentiation and function of cells of the blood and the immune system.