Natural antibodies (NAbs) are found in normal individuals in the absence of exogenous antigenic stimulation. Natural antibodies rapidly recognize and protect against pathogens that have not been previously encountered. NAbs also cross-react with several self-antigens, which, besides their role as a first line of defense against pathogens, affords them the ability to perform important housekeeping functions in healthy organisms. Such housekeeping functions include the clearance of oxidized damaged structures and/or apoptotic cells, which prevents the induction of pro-inflammatory effects. In addition, NAbs play a role in preventing the expansion of specific auto-reactive clones, thereby behaving as regulatory elements in acute or chronic inflammation. To maintain the non-pathogenic balance between the dual pathogen/self-antigen cross-reactivities of NAbs, a strict regulation in NAb secretion and function is necessary to avoid autoimmune disease. Actually, some of the NAbs related auto-reactivities, such as anti-DNA and anti-MOG, have been associated with autoimmunity. Furthermore, NAbs have been shown to bind to ‘neo-self’ carbohydrate antigens on glycolipids and glycoproteins found on malignant but not normal cells, which suggests NAbs may take part in tumor immunosurveillance. Many aspects regarding NAbs have yet to be studied in more detail: the reactivity and function of NAbs in health and disease, the behavior of the NAb repertoire with increasing age, the regulation of natural antibody production and auto-reactivity, the ways to specifically activate NAbs producing cells with desired specificities, the characteristics of human NAbs, among others. This special topics eBook consists of a number of articles exploring the cells that produce NAbs as well as the characteristics, function, specificity, and/or the role of natural antibodies in health and disease.

Natural antibodies (NAbs) are found in normal individuals in the absence of exogenous antigenic stimulation. Natural antibodies rapidly recognize and protect against pathogens that have not been previously encountered. NAbs also cross-react with several self-antigens, which, besides their role as a first line of defense against pathogens, affords them the ability to perform important housekeeping functions in healthy organisms. Such housekeeping functions include the clearance of oxidized damaged structures and/or apoptotic cells, which prevents the induction of pro-inflammatory effects. In addition, NAbs play a role in preventing the expansion of specific auto-reactive clones, thereby behaving as regulatory elements in acute or chronic inflammation. To maintain the non-pathogenic balance between the dual pathogen/self-antigen cross-reactivities of NAbs, a strict regulation in NAb secretion and function is necessary to avoid autoimmune disease. Actually, some of the NAbs related auto-reactivities, such as anti-DNA and anti-MOG, have been associated with autoimmunity. Furthermore, NAbs have been shown to bind to 'neo-self' carbohydrate antigens on glycolipids and glycoproteins found on malignant but not normal cells, which suggests NAbs may take part in tumor immunosurveillance. Many aspects regarding NAbs have yet to be studied in more detail: the reactivity and function of NAbs in health and disease, the behavior of the NAb repertoire with increasing age, the regulation of natural antibody production and auto-reactivity, the ways to specifically activate NAbs producing cells with desired specificities, the characteristics of human NAbs, among others. This special topics eBook consists of a number of articles exploring the cells that produce NAbs as well as the characteristics, function, specificity, and/or the role of natural antibodies in health and disease.

This volume illustrates the functional properties of NAbs. Authors from pioneering groups report in their chapters on the tissue homeostatic, tissue regenerating and regulatory properties of NAbs and NAbs in pooled human IgG. Scientists interested in the regulation and modulation of components of the immune system found a whole variety of NAbs to cytokines with regulatory and protective functions and NAbs that modulate, e.g., dendritic cells, regulatory T cells, B cells and granulocytes. Considering the large plasma pools and initial difficulties in preparing IVIG that does not induce adverse effects upon infusion into recipients, this volume ends with a historical chapter on how pooled human plasma was fractionated and the IgG component pretreated for a safe intravenous application.

The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.

Natural Autoantibodies provides an in-depth analysis of all aspects of natural antibodies. The book examines the advantages and pitfalls of every type of technique that is widely used for detecting autoantibodies. It also covers the sequencing of human autoantibody genes, discussing how sequencing is undertaken and the genetic clues available to elucidate the genetic origins of autoimmunity. Animal models of autoimmunity are also covered, and the up-to-date account provided in this book explains how natural autoantibodies have important regulatory functions and also occasionally serve as templates for autoimmunity. Other topics examined in Natural Autoantibodies: Their Physiological Role and Regulatory Significance include idiotypes of natural autoantibodies; the pathogenic role of natural autoantibodies; and methods to measure the effects of genetic and sex hormones, as well as aging, on natural autoantibodies. The book will be an excellent research tool and reference for immunologists, rheumatologists, and others interested in the topic.

This volume looks at the role of natural antibodies in pathogen elimination, cell survival, inflammation, cancer, and autoimmunity. The chapters in this book cover numerous topics, such as isolation of natural antibodies; methods for separating natural antibodies from human plasma, saliva, breast milk, and gastrointestinal fluids; functional properties of natural antibodies such as anti-tumor cytotoxic activity, and hydrolysis and dissolution of their target antigens; their utility in serological diagnosis of microbial antigens; and the role of natural antibodies in inhibiting viral vectors in the absence of prior exposure to the virus.

This issue of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology records the proceedings of a Workshop on the Immunology of Sili cones held at the Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, March 13 and 14, 1995. A large num ber of investigators from North America and Europe met to discuss available data on how the immune system responds to silicones and related materials. Some aspects of this field are controversial. Nonetheless, the meeting was marked by a civil and open ex change of scientific information and divergent interpretations, re flecting the traditions of scientific communication. Each invited participant was asked to submit an article sum marizing his/her presentation. Most of the papers are published as submitted, with only editorial changes to conform with the guide lines given to each contributor or revisions to clarify aspects of the paper. The papers should not be regarded as peer-reviewed publi cations. This preface will attempt to outline some of the immu nological areas of investigation relating to silicones.