Our results show that how the immune system responds to CMV has a fundamental impact on the phenotype and function of the immune response to mycobacterial antigens in older life.
Intestinal commensal bacteria are well known to impact on the organization and function of the immune system [38], and we observed that LPS could impart PLN-DC with an IgA promoting phenotype similar to that of PP-DC.
Some changes in phenotypes and functions of the immune cells in implantation site at maternal and fetal interface were reported in pathological conditions such as recurrent spontaneous abortions and preeclampsia [ 3– 7].
Phenotype and function of the MoDC were analysed.
Cytotoxic treatment regimens elicit several changes in immune-related parameters including the composition, phenotype, and function of immune cells.
Biologically active prostanoids have a great impact on the phenotype and function of immune cells [ 27, 55].
For instance, inadequate acquiring of the M2 phenotype and excessive production of anti-inflammatory cytokines can decrease bactericidal and antiviral functions of the immune response and provoke allergic and asthmatic Th2 reactions [ 106, 107] and tumor growth [ 108].
Population studies designed to determine the links between genotype and phenotype have uncovered numerous genetic variations that influence function of the immune system.
Identification of MGL2 as a specific marker for a DDC subset enabled direct investigations of the phenotype and function of DDCs in the skin-to-LN immune system.
Real-time measurements of enzymatic function, or other dynamic responses involving post-transcriptional protein modification, may provide a more immediate and complete determination of monocyte immune phenotype, revealing both the underlying inflammatory status and the response to further stimulation.
Currently, in the era of post-genomics, immunology is facing a challenging problem to translate mutant phenotypes into gene functions based on high-throughput data, while taking into account the classifications and functions of immune cells, which requires new methods.
