Inducible Lymphoid Organs

This book sheds new light on “inducible” lymphoid organs (ILOs): antigen presentation sites that are generated de novo in peripheral tissues under various pathogenic conditions. Accomplished immunologists demonstrate that the physiological role of these ILOs is completely different from that of central lymphoid organs, i.e., the lymph nodes or spleen. In addition to the central organs, the ILOs are considered essential structures for the efficient elicitation of adaptive immune responses in lesions.The respective chapters highlight examples from multiple sites, e.g. the skin, lung, intestinal tract, genital tract, the synovial membrane of the joints and artificial lymph nodes. Accordingly, readers will learn that ILO structure and function can vary substantially, depending on the context. Presenting the results of the latest immunological research, the book offers a fascinating and insightful read for both scientists and clinicians in the areas of infectious and immune-associated diseases.

About the Author

Dr. Kenji Kabashima was born in Japan in 1970. He graduated from Kyoto University in 1996 and was trained in Medicine/Dermatology at the United States Naval Hospital in Yokosuka Japan, Kyoto University Hospital, and University of Washington Medical Center. He started research on bioactive lipid mediators at Kyoto University, which led to a PhD. Then he studied at the Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, UCSF, and University of Occupational and Environmental Health. Currently, he is a chair/professor at the Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, a principal investigator at the IMB/SIgN, Singapore, and visiting consultant at the National Skin Centre, Singapore. His main interests include the mechanism of inflammatory skin diseases and 3D-visualization of the skin using two-photon microscopy. His hobbies are running and travelling. Dr. Gyohei Egawa graduated from Saga Medical school (Saga, Japan) in 2001 and was trained in the department of dermatology in Kyoto University (Kyoto, Japan). After getting his PhD, he worked at Kyoto University hospital and Centenary Institute (Sydney, Australia). Currently, he is a senior lecturer at the department of Dermatology in Kyoto University. His main interests are the barrier function of the skin and intravital visualization of the skin immunity.