Zimmerman LM. Adaptive Immunity in Reptiles: Conventional Components but Unconventional Strategies.
Integr Comp Biol 2022;
62:1572-1583. [PMID:
35482599 DOI:
10.1093/icb/icac022]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have established that the innate immune system of reptiles is broad and robust, but the question remains: What role does the reptilian adaptive immune system play? Conventionally, adaptive immunity is described as involving T and B lymphocytes that display variable receptors, is highly specific, improves over the course of the response, and produces a memory response. While reptiles do have B and T lymphocytes that utilize variable receptors, their adaptive response is relatively non-specific, generates a prolonged antibody response, and does not produce a typical memory response. This alternative adaptive strategy may allow reptiles to produce a broad adaptive response that complements a strong innate system. Further studies into reptile adaptive immunity cannot only clarify outstanding questions on the reptilian immune system but can shed light on a number of important immunological concepts, including the evolution of the immune system and adaptive immune responses that take place outside of germinal centers.
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