Developmental Biology of Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
The human immune system is a complex network of tissues and organs dispersed throughout the body. Immunology, as one of the most rapidly evolving fields in biomedical research, has to date covered the essential cellular and molecular events necessary for
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Pe´ter Balogh Editor
Developmental Biology of Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
Editor Pe´ter Balogh University of Pe´cs Department of Immunology and Biotechnology Szigeti u´t 12 7624 Pe´cs Hungary [email protected]
ISBN 978-3-642-14428-8 e-ISBN 978-3-642-14429-5 DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-14429-5 Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover design: WMXDesign GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
The human immune system is a complex network of tissues and organs dispersed throughout the body. These anatomic formations at definite locations and numbers are populated overwhelmingly with white blood cells (lymphocytes and other leukocytes) that are specialized to recognize invading pathogens and eventually destroy these. The scene for such collaborative work is the set of tissues collectively referred to as peripheral lymphoid tissues and organs, to distinguish from those central/primary lymphoid tissues where the bulk of pathogen-responsive cells develop. Among vertebrates, the mammalians (including humans) possess the broadest range of peripheral lymphoid tissues and organs. Although similar in functions, these territories are remarkably different in the way how they emerge during development, gain functional competence, and what tissue organization they achieve. This interlinked relationship of development–structure–functionality necessitates a volume dedicated to those developmental events that occur at the site of future immune responses, but take place prior to any encounter with external pathogens, and are crucial for subsequent immunological defense. In this regard, these biological processes strikingly mirror the evolution and advance of human society where, as a result of several thousands of years of history and social development, sophisticated infrastructure suiting highly diverse activities has been created. Buildings for living, education, work, as well as transport routes and rules have been created well before the actual need arises, but in a foreseeable and predictable pattern as a common element in preventing chaos and
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