Overview of the avian immune system

J. M. Sharma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

The avian immune system operates on the same general principles as the mammalian immune system. Antigenic stimulation initiates an immune response that involves cellular cooperation most notably between macrophages, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. Macrophages process the antigen and present the antigen to the lymphocytes. B lymphocytes, the principal cells that mediate humoral immunity, transform into plasma cells and produce antibodies. T lymphocytes, most important for cellular immunity, differentiate into functionally diverse subpopulations. The subpopulations of avian T cells have been identified with monoclonal reagents and appear to be similar to those of mammalian T cells. Lymphokines, the soluble products secreted by immune cells, mediate the functions of these cells. Studies on avian lymphokines have lagged behind those on mammalian lymphokines because the genes coding for avian lymphokines have not been cloned. The avian lymphokines studied thus far appear to function along the same lines as the mammalian lymphokines. The immune response in birds is highly regulated and breakdown in regulation often results in immunodepression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13-17
Number of pages5
JournalVeterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • General Veterinary

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