title: The other side of immunology: immunoplasia. Trophic (plastic) function of the immune system.
abstract: Destruction of non-self antigens for the preservation of the unique individual antigenic composition independently of the consequences (protection, allergy, death by anaphylactic shock, autoaggression) and serving the higher law of phylogenetic differentiation, is only one side of immune function. There is an equally important other side, the building, plastic or trophic function (immunoplasia, immunotherapy) which helps to produce this unique antigenicity throughout life, gives the initiating signal to regeneration after cell losses and controls cell proliferation until normal shape and size are regained. Failing or overfunctioning immunoplasia may be the cause of organ atrophy or hyperplasia with appropriate diseases as manifesting consequences. To many of the "idiopathic" organ atrophies and hypofunctions immuno-hypoplasia is a better explanation than the supposed autoimmune aggression. Based partly on the author's own experience the data and argument are summarized which support and reinforce the theory of immunoplasia.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D012038:Regeneration