| Literature DB >> 24890513 |
Meinrad Busslinger1, Alexander Tarakhovsky2.
Abstract
Immunity relies on the heterogeneity of immune cells and their ability to respond to pathogen challenges. In the adaptive immune system, lymphocytes display a highly diverse antigen receptor repertoire that matches the vast diversity of pathogens. In the innate immune system, the cell's heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity enable flexible responses to changes in tissue homeostasis caused by infection or damage. The immune responses are calibrated by the graded activity of immune cells that can vary from yeast-like proliferation to lifetime dormancy. This article describes key epigenetic processes that contribute to the function of immune cells during health and disease.Entities:
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Year: 2014 PMID: 24890513 PMCID: PMC4031963 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a019307
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol ISSN: 1943-0264 Impact factor: 10.005