Evaluation of immune responses.

This chapter will present some general background material on the cellular, biochemical, and genetic mechanisms of the immune system, then focus on specific examples that illustrate the promise and pitfalls of using immune biomarkers as tools for molecular epidemiologic research and public health practice. Some of the most exciting frontiers in medical science will be discussed: early detection of cancer through autoimmunity; malignancies that arise from the immune system itself; newborn screening for lethal immune deficiencies and latent autoimmune disorders; and neurodevelopmental disabilities that could result from maternal immune responses, which protect the mother but harm the fetus. The chapter concludes with some thoughts about current challenges and future directions.