Immune tolerance is critical to the avoidance of unwarranted immune responses against self antigens. Multiple, non-redundant checkpoints are in place to prevent such potentially deleterious autoimmune responses while preserving immunity integral to the fight against foreign pathogens. Nevertheless, a large and growing segment of the population is developing autoimmune diseases. Deciphering cell...

The immune system integrates innate and adaptive host defense mechanisms and is largely responsible for control of infectious disease. This system is under the tight genetic regulation of hundreds of genes. Some disorders are controlled by one or a few genes, while other more complex infectious diseases are controlled by many genes. Infectious diseases of livestock, including cattle, have becom...

Evidence is reviewed that indicates that an immune deficiency state may underlie patients with immune complex nephritis. Studies in several laboratories provide data that show defective immune function in patients with nephritis at the following loci: defective immunoglobulin production, impaired monocyte Fc and C3b receptor function, diminished complement biosynthesis, and decreased mesangial ...