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Innate immunity in vertebrates: an overview
Author(s) -
Riera Romo Mario,
PérezMartínez Dayana,
Castillo Ferrer Camila
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12597
Subject(s) - innate immune system , biology , immunity , acquired immune system , vertebrate , immunopharmacology , immunology , immune system , genetics , gene
Summary Innate immunity is a semi‐specific and widely distributed form of immunity, which represents the first line of defence against pathogens. This type of immunity is critical to maintain homeostasis and prevent microbe invasion, eliminating a great variety of pathogens and contributing with the activation of the adaptive immune response. The components of innate immunity include physical and chemical barriers, humoral and cell‐mediated components, which are present in all jawed vertebrates. The understanding of innate defence mechanisms in non‐mammalian vertebrates is the key to comprehend the general picture of vertebrate innate immunity and its evolutionary history. This is also essential for the identification of new molecules with applications in immunopharmacology and immunotherapy. In this review, we describe and discuss the main elements of vertebrate innate immunity, presenting core findings in this field and identifying areas that need further investigation.