Correlation of the Evolution of Immunity and Inflammation in Vertebrates

Abstract

Abstract—The paper discusses the sequence of the developmental stages in the immune system and inflammation in vertebrates: the formation of classic forms of adaptive immunity and inflammation for vertebral species, the origin of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and T cell–dependent variants of productive inflammation in fish; the appearance of new antibody classes in tetrapods, and the origin of exudative–destructive inflammation in higher vertebrates and suppurative inflammation in mammals. Each evolutionary stage in the development of immunity and inflammation was determined by the need to organize the immune system to conform to the level of the general organization of vertebrate species. At the same time, each stage predetermined the appearance of “windows of vulnerability” in the form of the possible development of autoimmune, allergic diseases, and systemic complications of the inflammatory process.