title: Immunologic reconstitution in man--present status.
abstract: Recent advances in immunobiology have shed new light on our understanding of the essential role of immunity as it relates to body economy. Immunity, once thought to be the primary defense mechanism against microbial infection, appears to have a much broader function--recognition and elimination of foreign bodies and preservation of the integrity of the individual. As our understanding of the pathophysiology of the immune system became more clear, immunologic reconstitution emerged as a new, promising mode of treatment for a variety of diseases with immunodeficiency. Bone marrow transplantation, thymus transplanation, transfer factor therapy, infusion of leukocytes, BCG vaccination, and other specific or nonspecific immunostimulants have been tried, with dramatic beneficial results in some instances. Although still in its infant stage, this form of treatment appears to have great potential and wide application in the prevention and treatment, not only of primary immunodeficiency, but also of many other diseases such as cancer, the so-called autoimmune diseases, and even aging.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007223:Infant; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D014165:Transfer Factor; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D014165:Transfer Factor