title: Basic immunology: a primer.
abstract: This article is intended to bring practicing physicians up to date on the current state of knowledge regarding the basic components and processes of the immune system. It discusses the role of the immune system and the importance of self-tolerance and describes the main cellular and noncellular entities involved in the immune response. It also details immune processes such as the lymphocyte selection process leading to self tolerance; antigen processing and presentation; cell signaling, activation, and co-stimulation; and the actions of cytokines and other signaling molecules.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Medical School, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Helm
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D007110:Immunity, Active / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines