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Immunology: An introduction
BOOK REVIEWS
thelial cells, is reported by Sigel et al. Furthermore, fish peripheral blood lymphocytes were found responsive to human interleukin-1. T. C. Fletcher describes tests in the plaice, Pleuronectes, in which cortisol affects leukocyte function in the immune response. Similarly, Wechsler et al. find that corticosteroids are immunosuppressive in striped bass (Morone). These are among the first reports in the field of comparative immunoendocrinology. It is hoped that this is a field destined for future growth. Lymphokines, Vol. 13. Molecular Cloning and Analysis of Lymphokines. By D. R. WEBB AND D. V. GOEDDEL. Academic Press, Orlando, FL, 1987. 319 pp., including index.
This book is part of a series dealing exclusively with the macrophage- and lymphocyte-produced factors, the lymphokines or interleukins. The focus is on the molecular biology of these hormonal or hormonal-like substances: the genes from which their structure is determined, the cloning of these genes, and the properties of the recombinant types of lymphokines. While the endocrinologist or student may not wish to go into such detail concerning these factors, each chapter dealing with a particular lymphokine, as a rule, contains a succinct summary of the general biology of that lymphokine. The substances reviewed in this way are interleukins 1 and 2, interferon-y, tumor necrosis factor, as well as the hemopoiesis-stimulating factors (CSFs). Neuroimmune Interactions: Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Neuroimmunomodulation. Edited by B. D. JANKOVIC, B. M. MARKOVIC AND N. H. SPECTOR. New York Academy of Sciences, New York, 1987. 756 pp., no index.
The cohesion of the items in a book that summarizes the presentations at a meeting is sometimes difficult to recognize, and this book fits this generalization. However, not to be overlooked is a message that the volume as a whole delivers, that nervous and
169
neuroendocrine influences can modulate the immune response. As the editors say in the preface, “The anatomy and physiology of the immune microenvironment rest basically on a triadic relationship among the lymphocyte, the neuron and the endocrine cell.” The book consists of 100 articles which bear on this relationship to various degrees. Among the topics taken up which should be of interest to endocrinologists are humoral factors from the thymus, pineal, brain, pituitary, and adrenal that affect the immune response. The specific hormones that are considered are the enkephalins and endorphins, somatostatin and other hypothalamic peptides, corticosteroids, insulin, substance P, peptide growth factors (particularly NGF), and neurohypophyseal octapeptides, and interleukins 1 and 2. In addition, a variety of neurotransmitters delivered either at the nerve ending or through the blood are shown to be involved in the immune response (dopamine, catecholamines) as well as histamine. Though it is difficult to read, the book is well worth having available in the library. It presents a point of view that is not ordinarily part of the endocrinologists’ field, and yet it is bound to grow in importance. Immunology: An Introduction, Second ed. By I. R. TIZARD. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1988. 563 pp., including index.
For the nonimmunologist who would like to learn more from a well-written introduction to the field, Tizard’s book is an excellent reference. In addition to a description of the successive phases of the immune response and production of antibodies, there is an adequate description of the morphology of elements of the immune system. The roles of interleukin-1 and -2 in the response to presence of antigens and in the stimulation of B cell differentiation and multiplication are well outlined. There is a chapter entitled “T Cell Products” in which the various lymphokines are discussed, at least briefly. In the chapter “Regulation of the
170
BOOK REVIEWS
Immune Response” where the influence of hormones could be brought in, unfortunately, they are not. In the brief discussion of the bursa of Fabricius, the lymphoid organ of birds that is involved in the differentiation of B cells, there is no mention of its recently characterized hormone, bursin. Bursin, like TRH, is a tripeptide and is active in mammals as well as birds in determining B cell differentiation. On the other hand, the thymic hormones, which trigger T lymphocyte differentiation, are discussed in Tizard’s text. Immunology: A Synthesis. By E. S. GOLUB. Sinauer, Sunderland, MA, 1987. 551 pp., including index.
Like the preceding text, this one aims at introducing the field of immunology to undergraduate students. It is well written, and even presents some topics with humor. Under the heading “The Induction of Lymphocyte Differentiation” the thymic “hormones” that induce T cell differentia-
tion are mentioned, as well as a molecule “bursapoietin.” The latter is extractable from the avian bursa of Fabricius, a lymphoid organ under the cloaca1 mucosa that induces B cell differentiation. The bursa hormone since publication of this book has been isolated as a tripeptide and named “bursin.” The interleukins and blood cell colonystimulating factors are given a chapter to themselves and more adequately discussed in this textbook than in any seen by this reader. Interferon, another lymphokine hormone-like product of lymphocytes, is considered separately as an element in the organism’s response to viral infections. The steroid and pituitary hormones that are known to regulate the immune response are not mentioned in Golub’s book, though they are receiving much attention in the published current literature and in other books reviewed here.
thelial cells, is reported by Sigel et al. Furthermore, fish peripheral blood lymphocytes were found responsive to human interleukin-1. T. C. Fletcher describes tests in the plaice, Pleuronectes, in which cortisol affects leukocyte function in the immune response. Similarly, Wechsler et al. find that corticosteroids are immunosuppressive in striped bass (Morone). These are among the first reports in the field of comparative immunoendocrinology. It is hoped that this is a field destined for future growth. Lymphokines, Vol. 13. Molecular Cloning and Analysis of Lymphokines. By D. R. WEBB AND D. V. GOEDDEL. Academic Press, Orlando, FL, 1987. 319 pp., including index.
This book is part of a series dealing exclusively with the macrophage- and lymphocyte-produced factors, the lymphokines or interleukins. The focus is on the molecular biology of these hormonal or hormonal-like substances: the genes from which their structure is determined, the cloning of these genes, and the properties of the recombinant types of lymphokines. While the endocrinologist or student may not wish to go into such detail concerning these factors, each chapter dealing with a particular lymphokine, as a rule, contains a succinct summary of the general biology of that lymphokine. The substances reviewed in this way are interleukins 1 and 2, interferon-y, tumor necrosis factor, as well as the hemopoiesis-stimulating factors (CSFs). Neuroimmune Interactions: Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Neuroimmunomodulation. Edited by B. D. JANKOVIC, B. M. MARKOVIC AND N. H. SPECTOR. New York Academy of Sciences, New York, 1987. 756 pp., no index.
The cohesion of the items in a book that summarizes the presentations at a meeting is sometimes difficult to recognize, and this book fits this generalization. However, not to be overlooked is a message that the volume as a whole delivers, that nervous and
169
neuroendocrine influences can modulate the immune response. As the editors say in the preface, “The anatomy and physiology of the immune microenvironment rest basically on a triadic relationship among the lymphocyte, the neuron and the endocrine cell.” The book consists of 100 articles which bear on this relationship to various degrees. Among the topics taken up which should be of interest to endocrinologists are humoral factors from the thymus, pineal, brain, pituitary, and adrenal that affect the immune response. The specific hormones that are considered are the enkephalins and endorphins, somatostatin and other hypothalamic peptides, corticosteroids, insulin, substance P, peptide growth factors (particularly NGF), and neurohypophyseal octapeptides, and interleukins 1 and 2. In addition, a variety of neurotransmitters delivered either at the nerve ending or through the blood are shown to be involved in the immune response (dopamine, catecholamines) as well as histamine. Though it is difficult to read, the book is well worth having available in the library. It presents a point of view that is not ordinarily part of the endocrinologists’ field, and yet it is bound to grow in importance. Immunology: An Introduction, Second ed. By I. R. TIZARD. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1988. 563 pp., including index.
For the nonimmunologist who would like to learn more from a well-written introduction to the field, Tizard’s book is an excellent reference. In addition to a description of the successive phases of the immune response and production of antibodies, there is an adequate description of the morphology of elements of the immune system. The roles of interleukin-1 and -2 in the response to presence of antigens and in the stimulation of B cell differentiation and multiplication are well outlined. There is a chapter entitled “T Cell Products” in which the various lymphokines are discussed, at least briefly. In the chapter “Regulation of the
170
BOOK REVIEWS
Immune Response” where the influence of hormones could be brought in, unfortunately, they are not. In the brief discussion of the bursa of Fabricius, the lymphoid organ of birds that is involved in the differentiation of B cells, there is no mention of its recently characterized hormone, bursin. Bursin, like TRH, is a tripeptide and is active in mammals as well as birds in determining B cell differentiation. On the other hand, the thymic hormones, which trigger T lymphocyte differentiation, are discussed in Tizard’s text. Immunology: A Synthesis. By E. S. GOLUB. Sinauer, Sunderland, MA, 1987. 551 pp., including index.
Like the preceding text, this one aims at introducing the field of immunology to undergraduate students. It is well written, and even presents some topics with humor. Under the heading “The Induction of Lymphocyte Differentiation” the thymic “hormones” that induce T cell differentia-
tion are mentioned, as well as a molecule “bursapoietin.” The latter is extractable from the avian bursa of Fabricius, a lymphoid organ under the cloaca1 mucosa that induces B cell differentiation. The bursa hormone since publication of this book has been isolated as a tripeptide and named “bursin.” The interleukins and blood cell colonystimulating factors are given a chapter to themselves and more adequately discussed in this textbook than in any seen by this reader. Interferon, another lymphokine hormone-like product of lymphocytes, is considered separately as an element in the organism’s response to viral infections. The steroid and pituitary hormones that are known to regulate the immune response are not mentioned in Golub’s book, though they are receiving much attention in the published current literature and in other books reviewed here.