Meet the editor

 Professor Nima Rezaei gained his MD from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) and subsequently obtained his MSc and PhD in Clinical Immunology and Human Genetics from the University of Sheffield, UK. He also spent a fellowship year in Pediatric Clinical Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Newcastle General Hospital, UK. Professor Rezaei is now a full professor of Immunology and vice dean of International Affairs,

School of Medicine, TUMS, and a cofounder and deputy president of the Research Center for Immunodeficiencies. He is also a founding president of the Universal Scientific Education and Research Network. Professor Rezaei has edited more than 20 international books, presented more than 400 lectures/posters in congresses/ meetings, and published more than 700 articles in international scientific journals.

**Preface III**

**Chapter 1 1**

**Chapter 2 13**

**Chapter 3 39**

**Chapter 4 47** Immunoassay Techniques Highlighting Biomarkers in Immunogenetic Diseases *by Emilia Manole, Alexandra E. Bastian, Ionela D. Popescu, Carolina Constantin,* 

**Chapter 5 73**

Dynamic Interaction between Immune Escape Mechanism and HLA-Ib

*by Gia-Gia Toni Ho, Funmilola Heinen, Florian Stieglitz, Rainer Blasczyk* 

*Simona Mihai, Gisela F. Gaina, Elena Codrici and Monica T. Neagu*

Immunogenetic and Immunotherapy in Tuberculosis

*by Gloria Guillermina Guerrero Manriquez*

Introductory Chapter: Immunogenetics *by Amene Saghazadeh and Nima Rezaei*

Psychoneuroimmunology and Genetics *by Rama P. Vempati and Hemakumar M. Reddy*

Regulation

Contents

*and Christina Bade-Döding*

## Contents


Preface

About 100 years ago, there was the very real fear of allograft rejection reactions when deciding on organ transplantation and blood transfusion. On facing this fear, scientists began to unravel the way tissue rejection occurs and find possible implications for its inhibition. The observation of excellence in tissue transplantation between identical twins suggested a genetic component to donor-recipient compatibility. Consequently, incompatibility of ABO blood groups—which are inherited—emerged as the fundamental factor for rejection reactions. This initial realization was among the first clues to the crossword of immunogenetics. However, the determining factor that yielded the fruit of immunogenetics dates back to the late twentieth century when human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules and genes controlling their expression were introduced as the heart of the allograft rejection problem. In this manner, immunity and genetics are closely linked with the discov-

The introductory chapter of *Immunogenetics* provides an overview of the most important implications of immunogenetics after a brief introduction to the HLA

Despite its initial rejection, the manuscript introducing Western blotting, also known as immunoblotting, was published in the early 1980s. Since then, the scientific community is still interested in adopting different Western blotting approaches to detect immunologic proteins in biological samples. The second chapter explores

in detail the value of Western blotting as an immunoassay in today's world.

In addition to rejection reactions, HLA molecules expressed by tumor cells can drive tumor development and play a critical role in avoiding detection by the immune system. In Chapter 3, the dynamic interaction between immune escape mechanisms

Psychoneuroimmunology is a discipline with roots that connect the brain, behavior, and immunity. Findings of immunogenetic abnormalities that influence neurocircuitry and behavior have made this field especially interesting. Chapter 4 is dedi-

Tuberculosis is a potentially serious global health problem caused by *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* (Mtb) in humans. Different immune cells, for example, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and natural killer cells, are induced in response to Mtb infection. Genetic alteration of antituberculosis immune responses has been associated with predisposition to different forms of tuberculosis. The last chapter discusses the immunogenetics of tuberculosis along with potential implications for

We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to write this book on immunogenetics for IntechOpen, which is continuously attempting to open scientific minds

ery of hereditary varieties of immune responses.

system and its immunological function.

and HLA regulation is presented.

cated to reviewing such research.

immunotherapy.
