In article <20030217111256.10643.qmail at ww02.hostica.com>,
<URL:mailto:idv at udc.es> wrote:
> Is always the innate immunity response an antibodie independent
> response?for example, in ABO incompatible kidney transplant you have
> anti-blood group antibodies preformed and you have an immune response.
> What kind of response?¿adquired or innate?
>
The question you ask is an interesting one. The simple answer is that by
definition all human antibody responses are by definition part of the
'adaptive' or 'acquired' immune response and are therefor not 'innate'.
However...it is, as often the case in immunology, a question of
semantics...... thus this is an example of where the simple scientific
definitions sometimes lead to scientific misconceptions and
misunderstandings.
As you point out there are some antibody responses that appear to be common
to all, or most, individuals. Antibodies to some antigens, and you give the
example of the blood group antigens, are almost universally expressed. This
is because these derive from commonly inherited germline segments that are
rearranged with high probability in most individuals and do not require
much somatic mutation to provide affinity to a given antigen. So these
'receptors' (i.e. antibodies) are 'essentially' inherited in the germline
and may be produced in quantity and in the absence of a specific response
to a challenge with a given antigen. As such they therefor share features
in common with many 'innate' receptors.
Mike <URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/>
--
M.R. Clark, PhD. Division of Immunology
Cambridge University, Dept. Pathology
Tennis Court Rd., Cambridge CB2 1QP
Tel.+44 1223 333705 Fax.+44 1223 333875
