The B7-CD28 family molecules are probably the most intensively studied receptor-ligand systems in the field of immunology. This is evident from the explosive accumulation of literature, particularly in the last ten years. Recent years have witnessed rapid discoveries and characterization of new receptors and ligands in the family. These new pathways, although still in their infancy, have already brought much excitement to the field. However, until now, there has been no single volume to cover this entire area. This book was created to bring together state-of-the-art information and critical thinking from the leading investigators. This book covers significant territory of this rapidly moving field from structural biology and biochemical signalling to immunological functions and their potential applications in the treatment of human diseases. This is an excellent handbook and reference for immunologists, health professionals as well as medical students and graduate students in life science field.

This book equips young immunologists and health professionals with a clear understanding of the fundamental concepts and roles of co-signal molecules and in addition presents the latest information on co-stimulation. The first part of the book is devoted to co-signal molecules and the regulation of T cells. Following an initial overview, subsequent chapters examine each co-signal molecule in turn and discuss the mechanisms by which co-signal molecules regulate the different types of T cell. The second part covers various clinical applications, including in autoimmune disease, neurological disorders, transplantation, graft-versus-host disease, and cancer immunotherapy. To date, co-stimulation blockade and co-inhibition blockade have shown beneficial effects and many additional clinical trials targeting co-signal molecules are ongoing. The mechanisms underlying these successful treatments are explained and the future therapeutic potential in the aforementioned diseases is evaluated. Co-signal Molecules in T Cell Activation will be a valuable reference guide to co-stimulation for basic and clinical researchers in the fields of both immunology and pharmaceutical science.

Developing Costimulatory Molecules for Immunotherapy of Diseases highlights the novel concept of reverse costimulation and how it can be effectively exploited to develop immunotherapy using either humanized antibodies against CD80, CD86, and other costimulatory molecules or CD28 fusinogenic proteins in the treatment of diseases, including allergies, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus nephritis, severe psoriasis, vulgaris tuberculosis, thopoid, transplantation therapeutic, cancer, and inflammation. The text aims to provide the latest information on the complex roles and interactions within the CD28 and B7 costimulatory families, with the hope that targeting these families will yield new therapies for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity, transplantation, cancer, and other infectious diseases. Highlights the novel concept of reverse costimulation and how it can be effectively exploited to develop immunotherapy Provides the latest information on the complex roles and interactions within the CD28 and B7 costimulatory families Targets new therapies for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity, transplantation, cancer, and other infectious diseases

This book presents a comprehensive overview of important immune molecules and their structure-function relationships. The immune system is highly complex, consisting of a network of molecules, cells, tissues and organs, and the immune reaction is involved in various physiological as well as pathological processes, including development, self-tolerance, infection, immunity, and cancer. Numerous molecules participate in immune recognition, inhibition and activation, and these important immune molecules can be roughly divided into cell surface receptors, intracellular receptors and intracellular signaling molecules. The study of how these immune molecules function at molecular level has laid the foundation for understanding the immune system. The book provides researchers and students with the latest research advances concerning the structural biology of key immune molecules/pathways, and offers immunologists essential insights into how these immune molecules function.

Regulatory T Cells in Health and Disease focuses on the mechanism by which T cells become regulatory T cells, the processes which control the number of regulatory T cells in the blood and tissue, and the ways in which regulatory T cell prevent autoimmune disease and interact with infections and cancer. Contains contributions from leading authorities in the field of regulatory T cell biology Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field Explores the processes which control the number of regulatory T cells in the blood and tissue, and the ways in which regulatory T cell prevent autoimmune disease and interact with infections and cancer

Therapeutic cancer vaccines represent a type of active cancer immunotherapy. Clinicians, scientists, and researchers working on cancer treatment require evidence-based and up-to-date resources relating to therapeutic cancer vaccines. Vaccines for Cancer Immunotherapy provides a reference for cancer treatment for clinicians and presents a well-organized resource for determining high-potential research areas. The book considers that this promising modality can be made more feasible as a treatment for cancer. Chapters cover cancer immunology, general approaches to cancer immunotherapy, vaccines, tumor antigens, the strategy of allogeneic and autologous cancer vaccines, personalized vaccines, whole-tumor antigen vaccines, protein and peptide vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, genetic vaccines, candidate cancers for vaccination, obstacles to developing therapeutic cancer vaccines, combination therapy, future perspectives and concluding remarks on therapeutic cancer vaccines. Introduces the feasible immunotherapeutic vaccines for patients with different types of cancer Presents the status of past and current vaccines for cancer treatment Considers advantages and disadvantages of different therapeutic cancer vaccines Looks at the combination of vaccines and other modalities, including immunotherapeutic and conventional methods Analyzes obstacles to development of therapeutic cancer vaccines Gives a view on future perspectives in the application of therapeutic cancer vaccines

During the past decades, with the introduction of the recombinant DNA, hybridoma and transgenic technologies there has been an exponential evolution in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of a large number of human diseases. The technologies are evident with the development of cytokines and monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents and the techniques used in gene therapy. Immunopharmacology is that area of biomedical sciences where immunology, pharmacology and pathology overlap. It concerns the pharmacological approach to the immune response in physiological as well as pathological events. This goals and objectives of this textbook are to emphasize the developments in immunology and pharmacology as they relate to the modulation of immune response. The information includes the pharmacology of cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, mechanism of action of immune-suppressive agents and their relevance in tissue transplantation, therapeutic strategies for the treatment of AIDS and the techniques employed in gene therapy. The book is intended for health care professional students and graduate students in pharmacology and immunology.