The Conservative Physiology of the Immune System. A Non-Metaphoric Approach to Immunological Activity

Abstract

Historically, immunology emerged as a biomedical science, concerned with host defense and production of anti-infectious vaccines. In the late 50s, selective theories were proposed and from then on, immunology has been based in a close association with the neo-Darwinian principles, such as random generation of variants (lymphocyte clones), selection by extrinsic factors (antigens)—and, more generally, on genetic determinism and functionalism. This association has had major consequences: (1) immunological jargon is full of “cognitive” metaphors, founded in the idea of “foreignness”; (2) the immune system is described with a random clonal origin, coupled to selection by random encounters; and (3) physiological events are virtually absent from immunological descriptions. In the present manuscript, we apply systemic notions to bring forth an explanation including systemic mechanisms able to generate immunological phenomena. We replace “randomness plus selection” and the notion of foreignness by a history of structural changes which are determined by the coherences of the system internal architecture at any given moment. The importance of this systemic way of seeing is that it explicitly attends to the organization that defines the immune system, within which it is possible to describe the conservative physiology of the immune system. Understanding immune physiology in a systemic way of seeing also suggests mechanisms underlying the origin of immunopathogeny and therefore suggests new insights to therapeutic approaches. However, if seriously acknowledged, this systemic/historic approach to immunology goes along with a global conceptual change which modifies virtually everything in the domain of biology, as suggested by Maturana.

Prolonged Antigen Ingestion by Sensitized Mice Ameliorates Airway Inflammation

“…Both in humans and animal models, including allergic conditions, parasite infections and inherited immunodeficiencies eosinophilia and enhanced IgE production are linked to helper T cell oligoclonal expansions, suggesting a possible link between immunopathology and a reduction in clonal diversity [18]. There is also no accepted explanation for oral tolerance, but it is conceivable that immunological activity in the gut, which is constantly dealing with dietary materials and the commensal microbiome, involves a wide diversity of lymphocyte clones and favors the connectivity among lymphocyte clones and thus hinders progressive and potentially pathogenic expansions of isolated lymphocyte clones [12]. …”

“…One is empirical and shows that prolonged intake of the antigen favors tolerance and reinforces equally empirical trials with OIT. The other is theoretical and suggests that we might switch from theories preoccupied with the intensity of immune responses to those concerned with the diversity of clonal activation as an important variable in immunopathology [12, 18]. …”

“…Food allergy is generally interpreted as a failure of oral tolerance [4]; however, there is also evidence that oral tolerance, rather than being an inhibition, promotes a stabilization of immune responsiveness [11, 12] by directly modifying inflammatory reactions [13]. We suggest that prolonged restriction and voluntary ingestion of the specific antigen by immunized animals may hinder allergic reactions and may be reached with minor digestive disturbances.…”

Psoriasis as a Chess Board — An Update of Psoriasis Pathophysiology

“…The general notion of the immune system as a defense arrangement that protects us against the microorganisms must be changed. This view results from a reduction of the process itself and, as mentioned by Dr. Nelson Vaz, are features derived from the birth of the immunology [1]. Immunology, as a scientific field, is new in the history of medicine.…”

Insights into the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Psoriasis

“…The general notion of the immune system as a defense arrangement that protects us against the microorganisms must be changed. This view results from a reduction of the process itself and, as mentioned by Dr. Nelson Vaz, are features derived from the birth of the immunology (Vaz et al, 2006). Immunology, as scientific field, is new in the history of medicine.…”