IMMUNOLOGIE

• Immune regulation during pregnancy and host-pathogen interactions in infectious abortion
• Dendritic cells: aspecialized complex system of antigen presenting cells
• Mucosal immunology: overview and potential in the veterinary species
• Immunity in neonates

Immune regulation during pregnancy and host-pathogen interactions in infectious abortion
ENTRICAN G
J Comp Pathol 2002 126: 79-94
This paper is an in-depth study into the immune mechanisms involved in the success and/or failure of pregnancy in mammal and human beings both in terms of fetal and maternal survival. The role of immune cells in the context of infectious abortions is also considered. The study highlights the beneficial or detrimental effects of cytokines as well as the effects of hormones on normal pregnancy and infection occurring during pregnancy.

Dendritic cells: a specialized complex system of antigen presenting cells
MAKALA LHC, NAGASAWA H
J Vet Med Sci 2002 64: 181-193
The current knowledge on the complex system of dendritic cells (DC) is reviewed in this paper. DC are key elements in the immune system and they are known to capture antigens, process them and present them to the naïve T cells for activation. The ontogeny, classification, morphology and function of the DC are detailed but much remains to be discovered about the mechanisms involved in immune response and the role of DC. Research into the network of DC is underway worldwide.

Mucosal immunology: overview and potential in the veterinary species
HANNANT D
Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2002 8: 265-267
The importance and role of mucosal immune system has been studied in several animal species, especially in horses and are summed up in this paper.

Immunity in neonates
MOREIN B, ABUSUGRA I, BLOMQVIST G
Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2002 87: 207-213
The immature immune system of neonates and the passive immunity acquired from the mother are problematic in terms of an active immune response which should be mounted by neonates in case of infection. In addition, the neonatal innate immune system presents some defects and is orientated towards an up regulation of Th2 response and a deficiency of Th1. However several experiments with mice have shown that the TH2 bias can be overcome with induction of Th1 by appropriate treatment and vaccination.