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The immunoglobulin a system (advances in experimental medicine and biology, vol. 45)
Book Reviews and the relationship of this to its mitogenic activity is discussed by several authors. Most of the papers are readily accessible to the average reader. The description of the methodology of the experiments and the clarity of presentation of experimental data in several papers but particularly that of Milstein et al., would make these articles valuable for teaching students, One of the drawbacks of such a book as this is inevitably the price. As much of the information in the book is now
93
scattered over a wide range of scientific journals the impoverished student of immunology will be forced to turn to the source material.
Department of Immunology Middlesex Hospital Medical School Tottenham Street London WIP 9PG England
ANNE COOKE
The Immunoglobulin A System (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Vol. 45)--Edited by Mestecky J. and Lawton A. R.. III. Plenum Press, New York. 1974. 555 pp., 828.00. This volume is a record of the proceedings of an international symposium held in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama in Birmingham in October of I973. Sessions were designed to cover developmental and cellular aspects of IgA: structural, biosynthetic and genetic aspects with emphasis on recent progress in studies of the primary structure of IgA: and functional and clinical aspects with special emphasis on the relationship of IgA and oral health. The major theme in terms of species is man, with more than 70% of the contributions directed towards the human IgA system, although reports of studies in various laboratory animals are also included which provide recent essential information for understanding current concepts of developmental, cellular and functional aspects of the IgA system. This volume reflects a well planned symposium. bringing together chemists, biologists, veterinarians, physicians and dentists who report recent information in their own research areas and who do not hesitate to ask each other probing questions in the discussions of the papers --all of which have been recorded. These discussions convey the excitement of the participants in hearing new information about a rapidly advancing field. The papers covering structural studies of human IgA provide a good
synopsis of current data. The reader who has not lollowed the lgA system closely in the past may have the feeling that papers covering the functional aspects of the lgA system are somewhat diverse, and indeed they are. The statement by Richard Hong on page 413. "'Like an adolescent, lgA at this moment seems impossible to understand but fascinating to study." summarizes the current state of the art and encouraged me to reread many papers with the belief that continued, pursuit of such diverse approaches can lead to a more unified concept of the functional roles of IgA. The symposium is closed with a summary by Robert Good, who puts much of the information in perspective and points out inconsistencies and gaps in information about the lgA system by posing a set of unanswered questions. I would recommend that readers who are not specialists in the lgA field start with the last chapter first.
Department o/'Pl"erentit'e ),lcdicine W. CAREY HANLY and Community Health Colleye of Medicine University of Illinois at the Medical Center Chicago, IL 60680 U.S.A.
Cyclic Amp, Cell Growth, and the Immune Reslmnse---Edited by Werner Braun, Lawrence M. Lichtenstein and Charles W. Parker. Springer, New York, 1974. 416 pp. 523.80. This is a Symposium report for those who read rather than thumb. In this sense it bears the stamp of its posthumous editor. Werner Braun. It is well worth reading because the book pays dividends at several levels. One senses in the papers and discussion the excitement of an unfolding field i.e. the intracellular mediators of tolerance, induction and effector function in the immune system. The central role of cAMP was clearly realized at the time of the meeting. However, everyone must have left the meeting fired by the emerging role of cGMP. In this respect, the meeting was perfectly timed, a credit to its organizers. In a field, blooming with poppies, one tends to ask the question "'what would happen if?" There is a good deal of this in the reported work on the effects of hormones or transmitters on the immune response and its effector function. This is an invitation to those of us who like to rationalize a body of work. The food stables are there, but only primitive attempts were made at the conference to blend a presentable dinner. The reader is given a chance to display creative cordon bleu cuisine. Aside from the obvious presentation of a body of knowledge, there is a special bonus for the graduate student
in particular. Too often it is forgotten that science is carried on by scientists. We never get to know our peers through the stereotyped formats imposed by journals, Science advances most often because of ambiguities of interactions and meaning. This process, lost in print, is seen often at meetings during verbal exchange. By reporting the discussion in this book the students in particular (and all of us in general) get a sense of the individuals who participated. Consider that Joycian character. Dr. Bloom, who says, "'Did I understand correctly that you were saying that the action of an adjuvant can be readily explained by saying that the cells are full of "X'?'" Or the man of precision, Dr. Austen, who asks. "'Can we be absolutely certain that .... ?" and is answered with confidence by Dr. Melmon. "'As sure as we know how to be sure". Then we find the mind-blowing fears of Dr. Henney, "Can I add a plea that we not use H-2 for the type 2 histamine receptor. We already have a perfectly adequate H-2". Or the appeal to final authority of Dr. Weissman when asked, "Did you check whether the cholera toxin used in your experiments really had cholera-toxin-like activity"? answers "We got our cholera toxin from Dr. Bourne and Dr. Lichtenstein". Or the endlessly searching Dr. Go[dberg
93
scattered over a wide range of scientific journals the impoverished student of immunology will be forced to turn to the source material.
Department of Immunology Middlesex Hospital Medical School Tottenham Street London WIP 9PG England
ANNE COOKE
The Immunoglobulin A System (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Vol. 45)--Edited by Mestecky J. and Lawton A. R.. III. Plenum Press, New York. 1974. 555 pp., 828.00. This volume is a record of the proceedings of an international symposium held in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama in Birmingham in October of I973. Sessions were designed to cover developmental and cellular aspects of IgA: structural, biosynthetic and genetic aspects with emphasis on recent progress in studies of the primary structure of IgA: and functional and clinical aspects with special emphasis on the relationship of IgA and oral health. The major theme in terms of species is man, with more than 70% of the contributions directed towards the human IgA system, although reports of studies in various laboratory animals are also included which provide recent essential information for understanding current concepts of developmental, cellular and functional aspects of the IgA system. This volume reflects a well planned symposium. bringing together chemists, biologists, veterinarians, physicians and dentists who report recent information in their own research areas and who do not hesitate to ask each other probing questions in the discussions of the papers --all of which have been recorded. These discussions convey the excitement of the participants in hearing new information about a rapidly advancing field. The papers covering structural studies of human IgA provide a good
synopsis of current data. The reader who has not lollowed the lgA system closely in the past may have the feeling that papers covering the functional aspects of the lgA system are somewhat diverse, and indeed they are. The statement by Richard Hong on page 413. "'Like an adolescent, lgA at this moment seems impossible to understand but fascinating to study." summarizes the current state of the art and encouraged me to reread many papers with the belief that continued, pursuit of such diverse approaches can lead to a more unified concept of the functional roles of IgA. The symposium is closed with a summary by Robert Good, who puts much of the information in perspective and points out inconsistencies and gaps in information about the lgA system by posing a set of unanswered questions. I would recommend that readers who are not specialists in the lgA field start with the last chapter first.
Department o/'Pl"erentit'e ),lcdicine W. CAREY HANLY and Community Health Colleye of Medicine University of Illinois at the Medical Center Chicago, IL 60680 U.S.A.
Cyclic Amp, Cell Growth, and the Immune Reslmnse---Edited by Werner Braun, Lawrence M. Lichtenstein and Charles W. Parker. Springer, New York, 1974. 416 pp. 523.80. This is a Symposium report for those who read rather than thumb. In this sense it bears the stamp of its posthumous editor. Werner Braun. It is well worth reading because the book pays dividends at several levels. One senses in the papers and discussion the excitement of an unfolding field i.e. the intracellular mediators of tolerance, induction and effector function in the immune system. The central role of cAMP was clearly realized at the time of the meeting. However, everyone must have left the meeting fired by the emerging role of cGMP. In this respect, the meeting was perfectly timed, a credit to its organizers. In a field, blooming with poppies, one tends to ask the question "'what would happen if?" There is a good deal of this in the reported work on the effects of hormones or transmitters on the immune response and its effector function. This is an invitation to those of us who like to rationalize a body of work. The food stables are there, but only primitive attempts were made at the conference to blend a presentable dinner. The reader is given a chance to display creative cordon bleu cuisine. Aside from the obvious presentation of a body of knowledge, there is a special bonus for the graduate student
in particular. Too often it is forgotten that science is carried on by scientists. We never get to know our peers through the stereotyped formats imposed by journals, Science advances most often because of ambiguities of interactions and meaning. This process, lost in print, is seen often at meetings during verbal exchange. By reporting the discussion in this book the students in particular (and all of us in general) get a sense of the individuals who participated. Consider that Joycian character. Dr. Bloom, who says, "'Did I understand correctly that you were saying that the action of an adjuvant can be readily explained by saying that the cells are full of "X'?'" Or the man of precision, Dr. Austen, who asks. "'Can we be absolutely certain that .... ?" and is answered with confidence by Dr. Melmon. "'As sure as we know how to be sure". Then we find the mind-blowing fears of Dr. Henney, "Can I add a plea that we not use H-2 for the type 2 histamine receptor. We already have a perfectly adequate H-2". Or the appeal to final authority of Dr. Weissman when asked, "Did you check whether the cholera toxin used in your experiments really had cholera-toxin-like activity"? answers "We got our cholera toxin from Dr. Bourne and Dr. Lichtenstein". Or the endlessly searching Dr. Go[dberg