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Complement: The Iceman of immunology?
Immunopharmacology ELSEVIER
Immunopharmacology38 (1997) 63-64
Foreword
Complement: The Iceman of immunology? Reinhard
Wiirzner
*
Inst. fiir Hygiene, Leopold-Franzens-Universitfit, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Abstract
Complement provides an important host defence system involved in a multitude of immune reactions, including opsonisation of micro-organisms, enhancement of inflammatory response, immunomodulation, clearance of immune complexes and cell lysis. The 6th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease, 12-15 March 1997 in Innsbruck, Austria, the preservation site of the neolithic Iceman, addressed the functional role of complement and its regulators in human disease. The scientific presentations clearly demonstrated that complement is not a redundant fossil, evolving since the dawn of vertebrate existence on the earth, but remains continuously important for mankind. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
This issue of Immunopharmacology contains a selection of articles presented at the workshop in Innsbruck. This meeting followed five earlier meetings held in Balatonftired, Hungary (1986); Bari, Italy (1988); Bratislava, Slovakia (1990); Leiden, The Netherlands (1992) and Les Diablerets, Switzerland (1994). More than 200 scientists gathered in Innsbruck to discuss the most recent developments in the field of complement, with a particular interest in human disease. An introductory lecture was given by P.J. Lachmann, Cambridge, and eight other invited lectures were given by H. Stockinger of Vienna, Z. Fishelson of Tel Aviv, D. Dormont of Fontenay aux Roses, A. Erdei of GiSd, B.P. Morgan of Cardiff, T.E. Mollnes of Bode, M.C. Carroll of Boston and M.J. Walport of London. Also, 35 oral presentations, 37 short oral presentations and 118 posters were presented. The following articles represent a collection of
* Tel.: +43-512-5073426; fax: 43-512-5072870; e-mail: reinhard'wuerzner@uibk'ac'at
reports focusing on complement deficiencies, infections, neurological and rheumatological disease, anaphylatoxins, therapy, biocompatibility and transplantation. These topics cover a good proportion of recent developments in the field of complement (Table 1) and reflect the considerable interest by both the basic and clinical research community. The meeting in Innsbruck was also the formal birthplace of the European Complement Network (ECN) with the BIOMED 2 concerted action # BMH4-CT96-1005 (Role of complement in susceptibility to infection and chronic disease) serving as midwife. ECN's main aim is to promote communication between complement labs using both an e-mail bulletin board ( h t t p : / / w w w . m a i l b a s e . a c . u k / l i s t s / complement-ecn/) and an exchange visitor program (contact: M.R. Daha, Leiden). The first official action of the ECN was to honor four outstanding European complementologists for their life-time achievement: Anna-Brita Laurell, Paul Klein, Peter J. Lachmann, and Klaus Rother. On its last day the meeting culminated with a presentation on the Iceman by its preservator Othmar
0162-3109/97/$17.00 © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Pll S0162-3109(97)00083-0
R. Wi~rzner/ lmmunopharmacology 38 (1997) 63-64
64
Table 1 Recent developments in the field of complement. Topics presented at the 6th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease Basic complementology including signal transduction pathways - Genetics of several complement components - Molecular mechanisms by micro-organisms to evade complement attack Interactions of complement with - Precise molecular characterization of complement deficiencies - Role of complement in allergy, cancer and renal disease Involvement of complement in autoimmune disorders Beneficial and adverse effects of complement protein synthesis in the brain Use of gene-targeted disruption (complement knock-out animals) for in vivo studies - Diagnostic aspects including sensitive and specific biocompatibility testing Use of anti-complement antibodies to inhibit complement activation/membrane attack Use of recombinant or synthetic complement inhibitors or receptor antagonists - Use of complement regulatory protein-transgenic animals for xenogenic transplantation -
-
H
I
V
-
-
-
-
-
Gaber of Innsbruck. Interestingly, this glacier mummy was discovered at the last day of the International Complement Workshop in Cambridge in 1991. The Local Organizing Committee from the Institute for Hygiene appreciated the fact that the 1997 meeting also celebrated the founding of the Chair of Hygiene (present holder: Professor M.P. Dierich) at
the Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck exactly 100 years ago. Acknowledgements T.E. Hugli and myself sincerely thank all of the scientists who provided scientific reviews of the articles appearing in this special issue.
Immunopharmacology38 (1997) 63-64
Foreword
Complement: The Iceman of immunology? Reinhard
Wiirzner
*
Inst. fiir Hygiene, Leopold-Franzens-Universitfit, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Abstract
Complement provides an important host defence system involved in a multitude of immune reactions, including opsonisation of micro-organisms, enhancement of inflammatory response, immunomodulation, clearance of immune complexes and cell lysis. The 6th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease, 12-15 March 1997 in Innsbruck, Austria, the preservation site of the neolithic Iceman, addressed the functional role of complement and its regulators in human disease. The scientific presentations clearly demonstrated that complement is not a redundant fossil, evolving since the dawn of vertebrate existence on the earth, but remains continuously important for mankind. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
This issue of Immunopharmacology contains a selection of articles presented at the workshop in Innsbruck. This meeting followed five earlier meetings held in Balatonftired, Hungary (1986); Bari, Italy (1988); Bratislava, Slovakia (1990); Leiden, The Netherlands (1992) and Les Diablerets, Switzerland (1994). More than 200 scientists gathered in Innsbruck to discuss the most recent developments in the field of complement, with a particular interest in human disease. An introductory lecture was given by P.J. Lachmann, Cambridge, and eight other invited lectures were given by H. Stockinger of Vienna, Z. Fishelson of Tel Aviv, D. Dormont of Fontenay aux Roses, A. Erdei of GiSd, B.P. Morgan of Cardiff, T.E. Mollnes of Bode, M.C. Carroll of Boston and M.J. Walport of London. Also, 35 oral presentations, 37 short oral presentations and 118 posters were presented. The following articles represent a collection of
* Tel.: +43-512-5073426; fax: 43-512-5072870; e-mail: reinhard'wuerzner@uibk'ac'at
reports focusing on complement deficiencies, infections, neurological and rheumatological disease, anaphylatoxins, therapy, biocompatibility and transplantation. These topics cover a good proportion of recent developments in the field of complement (Table 1) and reflect the considerable interest by both the basic and clinical research community. The meeting in Innsbruck was also the formal birthplace of the European Complement Network (ECN) with the BIOMED 2 concerted action # BMH4-CT96-1005 (Role of complement in susceptibility to infection and chronic disease) serving as midwife. ECN's main aim is to promote communication between complement labs using both an e-mail bulletin board ( h t t p : / / w w w . m a i l b a s e . a c . u k / l i s t s / complement-ecn/) and an exchange visitor program (contact: M.R. Daha, Leiden). The first official action of the ECN was to honor four outstanding European complementologists for their life-time achievement: Anna-Brita Laurell, Paul Klein, Peter J. Lachmann, and Klaus Rother. On its last day the meeting culminated with a presentation on the Iceman by its preservator Othmar
0162-3109/97/$17.00 © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Pll S0162-3109(97)00083-0
R. Wi~rzner/ lmmunopharmacology 38 (1997) 63-64
64
Table 1 Recent developments in the field of complement. Topics presented at the 6th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease Basic complementology including signal transduction pathways - Genetics of several complement components - Molecular mechanisms by micro-organisms to evade complement attack Interactions of complement with - Precise molecular characterization of complement deficiencies - Role of complement in allergy, cancer and renal disease Involvement of complement in autoimmune disorders Beneficial and adverse effects of complement protein synthesis in the brain Use of gene-targeted disruption (complement knock-out animals) for in vivo studies - Diagnostic aspects including sensitive and specific biocompatibility testing Use of anti-complement antibodies to inhibit complement activation/membrane attack Use of recombinant or synthetic complement inhibitors or receptor antagonists - Use of complement regulatory protein-transgenic animals for xenogenic transplantation -
-
H
I
V
-
-
-
-
-
Gaber of Innsbruck. Interestingly, this glacier mummy was discovered at the last day of the International Complement Workshop in Cambridge in 1991. The Local Organizing Committee from the Institute for Hygiene appreciated the fact that the 1997 meeting also celebrated the founding of the Chair of Hygiene (present holder: Professor M.P. Dierich) at
the Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck exactly 100 years ago. Acknowledgements T.E. Hugli and myself sincerely thank all of the scientists who provided scientific reviews of the articles appearing in this special issue.